58 



lornist* dissected a horse of 5 feet 9 inches height, French 

 measure, equal to 6 feet 1.7 English. This is near 6 

 inches higher than any horse I have seen : and could 

 it be supposed that 1 had seen the largest horses in 

 America, the conclusion would be, that ours have di- 

 minished, or that we have bred from a smaller stock. 

 In Connecticut and Rhode Island, where the climate 

 is favourable to the production of grass, bullocks have 

 been slaughtered which weighed 2500, 2200, and 21- 

 001b. nett; and those of 18001b. have been frequent. I 

 have seen a hogf weigh 10501b, after the blood, bowels, 

 and hair had been taken from him. Before he was 

 killed, an attempt was made to weigh him with a pair of 

 steel-yards, graduated to 12001b. but he weighed more. 

 Yet this hog was probably not within 50 generations of 

 the European stock. I am well informed of another 

 which weighed 11001b. gross. Asses have been still 

 more neglected than any other domestic animal in 

 America. They are neither fed nor housed in the most 

 rigorous season of the year. Yet they are larger than 

 those measured by Mons. D'Aubenton,J of 3 feet 7 1-4 

 inches, 3 feet 4 inches, and 3 feet 2 1-2 inches, the lat- 

 ter weighing only 215.81b. These sizes, I suppose, 

 have been produced by the same negligence in Europe, 

 which has produced a like diminution here. Where 

 care has been taken of them on that side of the water, 

 they have been raised to a size bordering on that of a 

 horse ; not by the heat and dryness of the climate, but 

 by good food and shelter. Goats have been also much 

 neglected in America. Yet they are very prolific here, 

 bearing twice or three times a year, and from one to 

 five kids at a birth. Mons. de BuflTon has been sensible 

 of a difference in this circumstance in favour of Ameri- 

 ca.§ But what are their greatest weights, I cannot say. 

 A large sheep here weighs 1001b. I observe Mons. 

 D'Aubenton calls a ram of 621b. one of the middle 

 size. II But to say what are the extremes of growth in 



* VII. 474. t III Williamsburg, April 1769. X VIII. 48. 55. 66, 

 i XVIII. 96. II IX. 41. 



