THE MULE 



313 



mule breeding is at least 16 hands high. The more weight and 

 substance he has the better. He is long and wide in form, having 

 good-sized, wTll-shaped head and ears, straight legs of ample 

 bone, and well-shaped feet of good size and texture (Fig. 171). 

 Black with light points is the color most favored, not only for 

 api^earance sake, but because the get of such a jack out of mares 

 of 'any or all colors have proven most uniformly of good colors. 

 He should also be stylish. 



The native jack, so-called, although but a few generations 

 removed from imported stock, has the reputation of getting a 

 higher class of mules than the imported jacks themselves. Of 

 the imjiorted breeds, the Catalonian, Poitou, Maltese, Andalu- 

 sian, Majorcan and Italian, the former is most popular. 



Fig. 172. — The right stamp of mares as attested by their produce. 



The Mare. — The mule is believed to take after the sire in the 

 matter of head, ears, bone, and foot, while its stature and form of 

 body, especially, are derived chiefly from the dam. There are 

 many exceptions to this rule, however. Mares of good size and 

 shape, black, bay, brown, or chestnut in color, and with a dash of 

 hot blood, are best adapted to the production of mules (Fig. 172) . 



REVIEW 



1. What is a mule? a hinny? 



2. What are the two general classes of mules and how is each produced ? 



3. What can be said in favor of using mules instead of horses for farm work? 



4. What type and breeding of jack is most desired for breeding mules ? 



5. What sort of mares make the most satisfactory dams of mules ? 



