20 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



persons on horseback, attended by Indians on foot, 

 form a 'large circle, in order to drive them into a 

 narrow compass, where at full speed they throw a 

 noose over them, and having secured them with 

 fetters, leave them till the chase is over, which 

 frequently lasts for several days. 



A warm climate is most favourable to the growth 

 of this animal : the Ass produced in this country is 

 much inferior in size and beauty to those of Spain 

 and other warm countries: in Guinea, they are 

 larger and more beautiful than even their Horses: 

 in Persia, they have two kinds, the one slow and 

 heavy, which is made use of for carrying burdens ; 

 the other nimble, smooth, and stately, used chiefly 

 for the saddle. 



Holingshed informs us that in the reign of queen 

 Elizabeth, there were no Asses in this country: 

 how soon after they might be introduced, is uncer- 

 tain. However, they are at present naturalized in 

 this kingdom, where their utility becomes daily 

 more universally experienced. 



The qualities of this animal are so well known, 

 as to need no description : his gentleness, patience, 

 and perseverance, are without example: he is tem- 

 perate with regard to food, and eats contentedly the 

 coarsest and most neglected herbage: if he give the 

 preference to any vegetable, it is to the plantain, 

 for which he will neglect every other herb in the 

 pasture. In his water he is singularly nice, drink- 

 ing only from the clearest brooks. He is so much 

 afraid of wetting his feet, that, even when loaden, he 

 will turn aside, to avoid the dirty parts of the road. 



He is stronger, in proportion to his size, than the 

 Horse; but more sluggish, stubborn, and untract- 



