THE WILD ASS. 45 



to agree in form, but in all are equ?lly distinct; the hair 

 equally smooth and fine ; the white shining and unmixed ; 

 and the black, or brown, thick and glossy. 



Such is the beauty of this creature, that it seems by 

 nature fitted to satisfy the pride and the pleasure of man ; 

 and formed to be taken into his service. Hitherto, how- 

 ever, it appears to have disdained servitude, and neither 

 force ror kindness have been able to wean it from its 

 native independence and ferocity. But this wildness 

 might, perhaps, in time be surmounted; since it is pro- 

 bable, the horse and ass, when first taken from the forest, 

 were equally obstinate, fierce and unmanageable. Mr. 

 Buffon informs us, that the zebra, from which he took his 

 description, could never be entirely mastered, notwith- 

 standing all the efforts which were tried to tame it. They 

 continued, indeed, to mount it, but then with such precau- 

 tions as evidently showed its fierceness, for two men were 

 obliged to hold the reins, while the third ventured upon its 

 back, and even then it attempted to kick whenever it 

 perceived any person approaching. 



THE WILD ASS 



Has, by some writers, been confounded with the zebra, 

 but very improperly, for they are of a very different 

 species. The wild ass is not streaked like the zebra, nor 

 is his shape so beautiful : his figure is pretty much the 

 same as that of the common ass, except that he is of a 

 brighter colour, and has a white list running from his head 

 to his tail. This animal is found wild in many islands of 

 the Archipelago, particularly in that of Cerigo. There are 

 many wild asses in the deserts of Lybiaand Numidia, that 

 run with such amazing swiftness, that scarcely even the 

 coursers of the country can overtake them. When they 

 see a man, they set up a horrid braying, and stop short 

 altogether, till he approaches near them ; they then, as if 

 by common consent, fly off with great speed; and it is 

 upon such occasions that they generally fall into the traps 

 which are previously prepared to catch them. The natives 

 take them chiefly on account of their flesh, which they 

 esteem as delicious eating ; and for their skins, of 

 which that kind of leather is made which is called 

 shagreen. 



