OF MULES. ai 



as this word miite^ in Its original acceptatiiDn, In- 

 cluded the idea of the barrennefs common to the 

 animal proceeding from the al's and mare, this 

 idea of barrennefs has been conveyed to all be- 

 ings who have the denomination of mules ; I 

 fay to all beings ; for, independent of quadru- 

 peds, birds, and fiihes, mule plants have been 

 fancied, to which, without hefitation, this gene- 

 ral fterility has alfo been afcribed. None of 

 thefe beingsj however, is abfolutely barren. The 

 mule^ properly fo called, or the animal produced 

 by the afs and mare, is not abfolutely barren ; 

 but its prolific powers, when compared with 

 thofe of pure fpecies, or even with thofe of o- 

 ther animals of a mixed fpecies, are much more 

 feeble and uncertain. 



All mules, fays Prejudice, are vitiated ani- 

 mals, incapable of producing : No animal, fay 

 Reafon and Experience, though proceeding from 

 two fpecies, is abfolutely barren. It ought to 

 be remarked, however, that in pure, aS well as 

 in mixed fpecies, the degrees of fertility are vcrf 

 different. In the firft, iome, like the Hlhes and 

 infc«^s, multiply, annually, by millions ; others, 

 as the birds and fmall quadrupeds, produce by 

 twenties and dozens ; in ime, others^ as man^ 

 and the largei- quadrupeds, produce only one in 

 twelve months. The number produced may be 

 faid to be in the inverl'e proportion of the mag- 

 nitude of animals. The horfe and afs bring 

 forth but one in a year ; and, in the fame pe- 



B 3' 3-iod, 



