328 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



draught should be light at first, and may be gradually increased 

 until he has acquired the habit of drawing steadily. When 

 thoroughly broken in the team, he may be put to the single 

 draught; but at first the loads should be light. 



The three natural and ordinary movements of horses are, 

 walking, trotting and galloping, to which, says PARKINSON, 

 some horses naturally add another, which is known by the 

 name of "ambling" or "pacing." The trot is, perhaps, the 

 most natural motion of a horse; but the pace and even gallop, 

 are most easy to the rider 



The diseases of the horse are as numerous and as important 

 as his complicated structure, and the artificial state of his pre- 

 sent mode of life would lead one to expect. Until of late years, 

 the treatment of these diseases was confided to the hands of 

 generally the ignorant and presumptuous; but now, a highly 

 improved practice exists, and its blessings are widely diffused. 



II. THE ASS AND THE MULE. 



THE ass, (Equus asinits,) is a native of the mountainous 

 deserts of Asia. They abound in Tartary, Arabia, and Persia, 

 and have been the servant of man from the earliest records of 

 the human race. He is at present domesticated throughout 

 most civilized countries; but on his native deserts and moun- 

 tains only is he seen in his perfect state. The manners of 

 the wild ass are in many respects similar to those of the wild 

 horse; extremely shy and vigilant, and marshalling themselves 

 together under the direction of a leader or sentinel. They 

 feed on the most saline and bitter plants, and prefer the most 

 brackish water to fresh. They are proverbial for their swift- 

 ness. When domesticated, they are remarkable for their meek- 

 ness, patience, tranquillity and attachment to their masters. 

 The ass and the mule feed on the coarsest herbage; but the ass 

 will slake his thirst at none but the clearest fountains and 

 brooks. 



Were we to judge of the value and importance of this crea- 

 ture from the feeble services he is able to render us in his pre- 

 sent oppressed and degraded state, we should form a very false 

 estimate of his importance. He is an inhabitant of the deserts, 

 and an invaluable servant in the burning regions in which na- 

 ture has fitted him to exist. But yet more than this, he is en- 

 dowed with the power of propagating a race of creatures of the 

 highest importance to many countries. The mule, to which 



