100 MULES AND MULE BREEDING. 



although in most of the ateliers (the name given to the 

 establishments where the jackasses are kept) one or two 

 female asses for breeding purposes are generally to be found. 



The female ass is kept entirely for breeding asses. 

 What is known in England, and commonly in Ireland, as 

 a mute, jennet, or hinny (the sire in this case being a 

 horse or pony, and the dam a donkey), is never, or very 

 rarely, seen in Poitou. An animal bred in this way is 

 termed hardot, and is considered of little value in 

 comparison with a mule proper, bred from a male ass 

 and female horse. 



In Poitou the same points are looked for in the female as 

 in the male ass, viz., girth, large head and ears, plenty of 

 bone in the legs, open feet and rough coats. The females are 

 not so high as the males as a rule, and may be said to vary 

 from 13 to 14 hands. It is scarcely necessary to mention 

 that, looking at the relative value of male and female asses, 

 it is the great anxiety of the breeder that his female 

 asses shall produce male offspring. With this view, the 

 wretched jennies are kept in as low condition as possible, 

 under the idea that such a condition favours the pro- 

 duction of male offspring. Indeed, the poor wretches are 

 mostly mere skin and bone, and are supplied with nothing 

 but hay and straw in just sufficient quantity to keep them 

 from absolute starvation. This is another of the Poitou 

 practices which requires sweeping away. The great 

 wonder is that, looking at the extraordinary prejudices 

 which prevail in Poitou, detrimental alike to animal 

 health and animal life, the breeders yet contrive to bring 

 into the market such fine mules as are to be seen in 

 hundreds at the winter fairs. I use the word "mules'^ 

 advisedly, as be it recollected that the breeding of the 

 asses is ouly to be regarded as a means to an end^ which 



