88 MULES AND MULE BREEDING. 



The Poitou breeders^, having made this discovery, have 

 for some centuries devoted themselves to rearing a breed 

 of asses as mule-getters with as large limbs and feet as 

 possible, and the consequence is that the Poitou mules are 

 much more symmetrical in form and appearance generally, 

 and more capable of moving a heavy load, than the Spanish . 

 The Spanish mule is better fitted for light trotting work 

 than the Poitou, but it is the latter auimal which is pre- 

 eminently suited for introduction into this country for 

 agricultural purposes as an auxiliary of, and substitute for, 

 the horse. 



Poitou mules are of all colours — bay, brown, black, grey, 

 white, and sometimes chestnut and skewbald ; but about 

 four-fifths of them take after the haiidet their sire in 

 colour, and he is always black, or dark brown. The height 

 of the draught mules ranges from 15 to 16 hands, rarely 

 more. Spanish mules sometimes reach 17 hands, but there 

 is generally too much daylight under these very tall 

 animals. The females always realise higher prices than 

 the males, chiefly on account of less risk being supposed 

 to attach to them during sea voyages. The price of a good 

 draught mule of three or four years of age ranges from 

 t^O to £60, sometimes reaching as high as £80 ; whilst a 

 draught horse or mare of corresponding quality and 

 capabilities can be purchased for from £30 to £40. 



The engraving at the head of this chapter represents a 

 brown mule which obtained a prize at the (xrand Concours 

 Mulassier, held at Niort, in the Deux Sevres. She was 

 the property of M. Auguste Disleau, of Sainte-Ouenne, and 

 stood just 16 hands at four years old. 



The second engraving is a copy of a photograph 

 taken at the Bnth and West of England Show, Croydon, 

 of Brunette, an imported Poitou mule l().l, belonging to 



