2G0 [Assembly 



of wild asses entirely of a pale yellow eolor \vhicli Le Vaillant 

 noticed in Southern Africa and called by the Namaquas the white 

 Zebra. Lastly there is in the kiang of Thibet or Himalayan wild 

 ass, described in Moorcroft's Travels in the Himalayan Provinces 

 (vol. 1 f . 311) and Blyth on the Genus Equns,in the Magazine 

 of Natural History (1840, vol. 4 p. 371 .) All these wild asses are 

 large, line, swift.animals, presenting a very different appearanoe 

 in height, sleekness and vivacity to our poor, domestic and degen- 

 erated ass whose ordinary personal appearance is too well known 

 to require a particular description. Mention is made of the ass 

 in Britain as early as the time of King Ethelred in 866—872 and 

 at a later period in the reign of Henry Third. But either from 

 disguise or some fatality the ass was entirely lost among us du- 

 ring the reign of Queen Elizabetli, Hollinshead informs us that in 

 his time " our lande did yeeldeno asses " and in Johnson's relations 

 of the most famous kingdoms (1611) it is stated that England 

 " bringeth not forth mules nor asses but of horse infinite propor- 

 tioned." It was probably during the reign of James First, that 

 the ass was introduced into England for the second time ; for du- 

 ring his soverignty we renewed our intercourse with Spain, in 

 which country the animal is in general use and in great perfec- 

 tion. 



It has often been said, and justly, that we know less of the nat- 

 ural history of those animals which are our most constant com- 

 panion than those which are so wild and afar off. But this is 

 easily accounted for from the obvious facts that these animals hav- 

 ing long since exchanged a life of independence in a state of na- 

 ture, for one of servitude in an artificial state, retain consequent- 

 ly but an imperfect notion of their proper habits. Such an ani- 

 mal has probably no idea of living in a herd with a leader at 

 their head — never dream of the sandy plains or of any diet rich- 

 er than hay and oats. What cau we pretend to know of an an- 

 imal that we hardly ever see in good condition or in good spirits. 

 Denounced as obstinate and stupid, its very name made a syn- 

 onyme for blockhead, it is cudgelled from its youth and no one 

 gives it that fair unprejudiced trial which every British subject 

 man or ass is fairly entitled to. The songs of the people have 

 often more influence on the moral conduct than all the laws — and 



