HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE ASS. 

 (Equus Asinus, Linn. L'Atic, Buff.) 



THE Ass, it is probable, was originally a native 

 of Arabia and other parts of the East : the deserts 

 of Lybia and Numidia, and many parts of the 

 Archipelago, contain vast herds of wild Asses, 

 which run with such amazing swiftness, that even 

 the fleetest Horses of the country can hardly over- 

 take them. They are caught by the natives chiefly 

 on account of their flesh, which is eaten by them, 

 and considered as a delicious repast. The flesh of 

 the common or tame Ass is, however, drier, and 

 more tough and disagreeable than that of the 

 Horse; Galen says, it is even unwholesome: its 

 milk, on the contrary, is an approved remedy for 

 certain disorders. 



The Ass, like the Horse, was originally imported 

 into America by the Spaniards, where it has run 

 wild, and become extremely numerous. Ulloa in- 

 forms us, that in the kingdom of Quito, they hunt 

 them in the following manner: A number of 



