170 



The Book of the Horse. 



like horses ; but this would be a waste of time and money, which would be much better 

 bestowed on a pony if pace is required. The donkey should be well fed and kindly treated ; 

 but do what you will, the animal in this cold climate will after all be only an ass, which can 

 be kept clean with a few strokes of the currycomb, and in sufficient condition for reasonable 

 work with grass in summer, hay and roots in winter. Where long daily journeys are required, 

 oats and beans will not be altogether wasted, but comfortable shelter in cold weather is a 

 matter of importance. 



POITOU BAUDET (THE SIRE OF DRAUGll F MULES). 



For practical purposes the domestic ass may be divided into two classes : the one seen 

 constantly at the watering-places of Europe, in the streets in light carts, and in rural districts 

 in light carriages, which arrives at the greatest perfection in Eastern climates, where it is used 

 as a beast for riding, as well as to carry burdens ; the other is the dray-horse of the ass tribe, 

 cultivated in Spain and in certain districts of France, chiefly for breeding mules. 



The Arab and the dray-horse are scarcely more dissimilar than the Egyptian saddle-ass 

 and the mule-begetting bmidct, of which illustrations are given : the first from a photograph 

 taken in Cairo ; the other from a portrait by Mr. Sheldon Williams of the Poitou stallion ass 

 exhibited at the Crystal Palace by Mr. Pease, at the suggestion of Mr. Sutherland, who has 



