VARIETIES OF THE ASS. 91 



'consume fixDm one-fifth to one-tliird more provender. Ye\ 

 sven at this he will consume so much less, while doing 

 more constant, though some\^'hat slower, work than the 

 horse, that three of the large-sized mules may be kept in 

 perfect condition on the same amount of food which ifl 

 required for the support of a pair of the nobler animals. 



It is evident, therefore, that where mules are not re- 

 :juired for show or speed, as saddle or carriage animals, aa 

 they are not, and probably never will be, in this country, 

 the smaller-sized animals are the more profitable both tc 

 raise and to keep, for the purposes of labor. 



Now, it should be understood, that there are at leasl 

 three different varieties of asses — beside the small, common 

 jack, supposed to be of African origin, generally of a light- 

 grey color, with a black stripe along his back and a trans- 

 verse list or bar across his shoulders — all of which, are 

 more or less used for breeding in this country. Although 

 the African jack above mentioned, is rarely used in this 

 country for breeding purposes, the mules bred from him 

 are infinitely the most hardy of all, though the lowest in 

 stature. The other breeds are these : first, the large, coarse, 

 heavy Spanish jack, with slouching ears and a dull, plod- 

 ding gait, from which the mules for agricultural purposes 

 are ordinarily raised on the Peninsula. It is this breed 

 which has been so much exhausted by the consumption of 

 the Peninsular war, and subsequent internal commotions, 

 that it is in some districts all but extinct. Second, the 

 Andalusian jack, with shorter and more erect ears, mor6 

 active, spirited, and sprightly than the foregoing species, 

 yet sufficiently strong and well provided with bone. This 

 animal is probably no other than a slightly degenerated 

 descendant of the Arabian species, which has become some 

 what coarser and larger boned, as well as less spirited, in 

 oonsequence of his long residence in a colder climate — 



