THE ASS. 9 



Wild asses. 



mountainous deserts of Tartary, the southern 

 parts of India and Persia, and some parts of 

 Africa, the ass exhibits an appearance very supe- 

 rior, both in point of beauty and vivacity, to the 

 animals of the same species in a state of domes- 

 tication. 



Asses are gregarious, living in separate herds, 

 each consisting of a chief, and several mares and 

 colts, sometimes to the number of eighteen or 

 twenty. They are remarkably timid, and provi- 

 dent against danger. A male takes on him the 

 care of the herd, and is always on the watch. If 

 a hunter, by creeping along the ground, has got 

 near a herd, the centinel, on discovering him, 

 takes a considerable circuit, and goes round and 

 round, as apprehensive of danger. As soon as 

 the animal is satisfied, he rejoins the herd, which 

 sets off with great precipitation. Sometimes, 

 however, his curiosity proves fatal; as he ap- 

 proaches so near as to give the hunter an oppor- 

 tunity of shooting him. 



The food of wild asses consists of the saltest 

 plants of the deserts, and the milky tribes of 

 herbs. They also prefer salt water to fresh ; in 

 consequence of which the hunters generally lie 

 in wait near the ponds or springs of brackish 

 water, whither they resort to drink. 



The senses of hearing and smelling in wild 

 asses are so exquisite, that it is but seldom they 

 can be approached without the utmost difficulty. 



