MULES AND OTHER HYBRIDS 235 



as they are commonly called, will ever come into 

 general use, since they have the disadvantage that 

 one of their parents is always a wild animal, 

 whereas a mule is the product of species which have 

 been domesticated for centuries. 



In the case of both mules and hinnies the 

 general build and appearance of the animal accord 

 with the type of the sire, although in the matter of 

 bodily size the dam is followed. Mules are there- 

 fore asinine in appearance, although with a more 

 horse-like tail, and relatively large ears ; whereas the 

 more horse-like hinny is small. If, however, females 

 of the great Poitou ass were to be utilised for 

 hinny-breeding, the progeny would probably be 

 of larger stature. One exception to the ass-like 

 character of the mule is that it lacks the white belly 

 of its male parent. Hinnies, on account of their 

 inferior size and strength, are but seldom bred, 

 although they are used to a certain extent in some 

 parts of Ireland. 



Mules are comparatively uncommon in England, 

 but are extensively employed in many parts of the 

 Continent, such as Spain, and on account of their 

 surefooted character, which they inherit from the 

 ass, are especially suited to mountain work. They 

 are largely employed in the Punjab, more particularly 

 in the frontier districts, for military purposes, where 

 there are mule- batteries for hill -work. These 

 batteries are armed with light field-guns, which are 



