MULES. 105 



the ass. Between the female ass and the horse, 

 the other kind of mule is engendered, whose nature 

 or medullary substance, resembles that of the ass : but 

 its outward form and cortical structure, or vascular 

 system that of the horse."* 



The latter kind was called Hinnus by the ancients, 

 hence the modern name Hinny, They were not held 

 in much estimation by the Romans, according to Pliny, 

 who describes them as difficult to manage, and so 

 slow that little service could be derived from them. 

 Buff on has noticed this animal, which he says " is 

 smaller than the mule, as it preserves the diminutive 

 stature of the ass." Hinnys were seldom propagated ; 

 but it is said that a number have lately been bred in 

 Spain, probably in consequence of the destruction of 

 mares in the peninsular war, and are represented of 

 good size, and more beautiful than the mule : that is, 

 they resemble the horse much more. 1 understand a 

 few have been bred upon the Spanish Main, no doubt 

 from a similar cause that led to the system in Spain ; 

 and if my information is correct, some have been 

 recently shipped to the West India Islands, but are by 

 no means esteemed so hardy, or valuable for service, 

 as mules. 



Notwithstanding mules have a disposition to propa- 

 gate, there have been but two or three well authenti- 

 cated instances recorded of their having bred; and 

 those productions were considered monsters. Buffon 

 was indefatigable in his researches on the subject : and 

 although he admits that it is possible for both males 



* See " A Dissertation on the Sexes of Plants," by Sir Charles 

 Linnceus read before the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. 

 Petersburgh, Sept. 6, 1760, and which obtained the premium of 

 one hundred ducats. 



