3o6 ASSES. 



unduly low {see p. 196). The spines of the vertebrae at the 

 withers are only a little shorter in the ass than they are in 

 the horse. As a rule, horses are higher at the withers than 

 they are at the croup. 



12. The horse has a thick strong dock to his tail; the 

 ass, a thin, lissom one. 



13. The horse, on each side of his croup and covering his 



pelvis, has, underneath and closely adhering to the skin of 



the part, a thick and extremely dense layer of connective 



tissue, which is so close and hard, when the skin has been 



tanned and dried, that it looks like horn. These two patches 



of thickened skin, are separated from each other about four or 



five inches apart, so that there is a strip of skin of ordinary 



thickness running down the croup towards the tail. These 



pieces of skin are utilised, chiefly, for the manufacture of long 



boots for foreign cavalry officers, by curriers, who dress and 



pare down the "shell," or hardened layer, until it is almost as 



smooth as glass, and can consequently take the brilliant polish 



which is greatly esteemed by these bea2ix sabreurs. I need 



hardly say that the leather which is thus employed, is worn 



inside out. It is both air and water tight. The "shell" is 



connected to the skin so closely that the two form one piece ; 



although their respective consistencies are different. If a 



section be made through the hide, their line of union may be 



readily seen. In the ass, the "shell" is not confined to the 



skin that covers the pelvis ; but also extends over the ribs, 



which are consequently not as sensitive to the effects of blows 



as are those of the horse. I may mention that the tendency 



which a horse has to turn his rump, as the least sensitive 



part of his anatomy, towards falling rain, cold currents of 



wind, etc., appears to be due to the feeling of protection to 



