

\ ERTEBRATA. 



'>':''r''-^^.^.^. - 



TIIK DOMESTIC ASS. 



are of two or three kinds, a part of them onagers, which arc a distinct though clearly allied 

 Bpeciee, and a part the offspring of domestic animals escaped to the wilderness, and a part mules 

 bred between these and the onager. 



But Leaving this subject as one upon which different authors may safely disagree, we proceed 

 i,, describe tie- most docile, humble, and patient of the servants of man, the Common Ass. In its 

 anatomy and physiology this is nearly the same as the horse. Its color varies, but is commonly 

 . with a dark longitudinal band on the back, crossed on the shoulders by a similar band. 

 Sometimes tin- limbs arc obscurely zebraed, especially in the young. It is as diversified in size 

 a- the horse, some being found in India, Barbary, and Southern Europe no larger than a New- 

 idland dog, while others arc nearly of the size of the horse. They are also of many breeds, 

 some being valued for their speed and gracefulness of form, and others only noted for their fru- 

 gality, patience, and endurance. In general, they are regarded as humble drudges, slow, stupid, 

 and given ii]> to the lowest uses of the poor. Buffon appreciates their character more justly in 

 the following pa 



"The then, an ass, and not a horse degenerated; the ass has a naked tail; he is neither 



in intruder, nor a bastard; he has, like all other animals, his family, his species, and 

 his rank ; hi- blood is pure; and although his nobility is less illustrious, yet it is equally good, 

 equally ancient with that of the horse. Why then have we so much contempt for this animal : 

 ood, BO patient, so Mealy, so useful? Do men carry their contempt even to animals, the.-. 

 which serve them so well, and at so small an expense? We bestow education on the horse, take 

 care of him. instruct him, and exercise him, while the ass is abandoned to the care of the low -t 

 servant, "r the tricks of children; so that, instead of improving, he must lose by his education : 

 indeed, if he had not a fund of good qualities he would certainly lose all that is valuable bj tie 

 manner in which he i- treated, lie is the make-game of the rustics, who beat him with staffs, over- 

 load him, ai d make him work beyond his strength. We do not consider that the ass would he in 



himself and with respect to us, the -t beautiful, the best formed, and most distinguished of animals 



if there were no horse in the world ; he is the second, instead of being the first, and it is from that 

 only that he appears to be of no value; the comparison degrades him; we look at "him, and give 



