MULE-BREEDING. 179 



7. Arabs are as a rule fairly well shaped. They are generally 

 white in colour, some being mouse. They run small and often light 

 in bone. Some of them are wanting in back rib and are inclined to 

 be flat sided. These are not easy to keep in condition, and once they 

 fall off are difficult to restore. They average about 12 hands. 



8. Persian. — The Persian in many instances has bone, substance, 

 and depth, with a good back. As a set off he falls off terribly behind, 

 and his hocks are much too far away from him. His big head and large 

 ears give him a stupid look. Though possessed of many good points, 

 he is an ugly animal and a strong contrast to the good looking 

 Italian. He stands about 12 hands 1 inch. 



9. Home-Bred.—Yesn's ago the Department of Horse-breeding 

 Operations obtained some Arab donkey-mares. These were crossed 

 with Italian stallions and the result is the Home-bred donkey. Several 

 of these have grown even larger than their sires. The average are 

 somewhat smaller than the Italian, but have bone, substance, and 

 looks, and are as a rule great favorites with breeders ; but few of the 

 original mares remain, the herd being now chiefly composed of their 

 daughters and grand- daughters. He averages 12 hands. 



10. The Punjabi is a very useful class of sire when he can be 

 obtained. He is of fair size, bone, and depth, is hardy and for a 

 donkey a ready coverer. He stands somewhat under 12 hands ; of 

 course, I speak of the best specimens. There are thousands of crooked- 

 legged, cow-hocked, weedy, worthless brutes in the Punjab as 

 elsewhere. 



11. Bokhara and Khorassani resemble the Persian, but run rather 



larger. 



ADVANTAGES OF MULE-BREEDING. 



12. There is one great advantage in mule-breeding which recom- 

 mends itself to the poorer class of mare-owners. A pony, worth 20 

 rupees, if put to the ordinary village tat will produce progeny as bad 

 as herself, if not worse ; put to a decent donkey, she brings forth 

 a mule, which he can sell as soon as weaned from 40 to 60 rupees, 

 and which at four years of age will quite possibly be up to Govern- 

 ment Transport form and so be worth Rs. 150. Thus, no outlay is 

 necessary to start mule-breeding. If a poor man has to keep a pony 

 and selects to have it a mare, he can cross her with a Government 



