THE ASS. 4? 



defend themselves with their heels and mouth with such 

 activity, that, without slackening their pace, they often 

 maim their pursuers. But the most remarkable property 

 in these creatures is, that after carrying their first load, 

 their swiftness leaves them, their dangerous ferocity is lost, 

 and they soon contract the stupid look and dullness pecu- 

 liar to the ass. It is also observable, that these creatures 

 will not permit a horse to live among them. They always 

 feed together ; and if a horse happens to stray into the 

 place where they graze, they all fall upon him ; and with- 

 out giving him the liberty of flying, they bite and kick him, 

 till they leave him dead upon the spot. 



Such is this animal in its natural state, swift, fierce, and 

 formidable ; but, in his state of tameness, the ass presents 

 a very different picture ; the moment his native liberty is 

 gone, he seems entirely to give up all claim to freedom ; 

 and he assumes a patience and submission even humbler 

 than his situation. He is, in a state of tameness, the most 

 gentle and quiet of all animals. He suffers with constancy, 

 and, perhaps, with courage, all the ill-treatment that cruelty 

 and caprice are pleased to inflict. He is temperate with 

 regard to the quantity and quality of his provision. He is 

 contented with the most neglected weeds : and makes his 

 humble repast upon what the horse and other animals 

 leave behind. If he gives the preference to any vegetable, 

 it is to the plantain ; for which he is often seen to neglect 

 every other herb in the pasture : but he is chiefly delicate 

 with respect to his water, he drinks only at the clearest 

 brooks, and chiefly those to which he has been accustomed. 

 He drinks as soberly as he eats ; and never, like the horse, 

 dips his nose into the stream. As he is seldom saddled, 

 he frequently rolls himself upon the grass ; and lies down, 

 for this purpose, as often as he has an opportunity, with- 

 out minding what becomes of his burthen. He never 

 rolls, like the horse, in the mud ; he even fears to wet his 

 feet ; and turns out of his way, to avoid the dirty parts of 

 the road. 



When very young, the ass is sprightly, and even tolera- 

 bly handsome ; but he soon loses these qualifications, 

 either by age or bad treatment, and he becomes slow, 

 stupid, and headstrong. The she-ass is very fond of her 

 young ; and we are assured that she will cross fire and 

 water to protect or rejoin it. This animal is sometimes 

 much attached to its owner, by whom he is too often abused. 

 He scents him at a distance, and distinguishes him from 



