184 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. IX. 



the saddle, which on animals with this conformation is apt to roll from 

 side to side or even slip off altogether. The elbows should not be 

 turned in ; the toes should be straight. The greater loin-power, 

 straighter croup, more muscular thighs and gaskins the better. Big 

 hock joints, even if they are rough, are a decided advantage, more 

 especially for hill-work. Sickle, cow-hocks, and hocks far out are 

 defects. These are so common that it is not easy, when buying mules 

 in large numbers, to avoid them. Though it is better to get as sound 

 a mule as you can when purchasing, still there are many defects, which 

 would render a horse almost valueless, which affect the working 

 power of the mule hardly at all. I have been informed that a spavin 

 causes a certain irregularity of gait which makes the saddle work 

 over to the opposite side and produces galls ; that is to say, if a pack 

 animal be spavined in the near hock he will gall on the off wither or 

 ribs. A Veterinary Officer, who had a large experience of Spanish 

 mules, told me this, but I have not noticed it myself amongst Indian, 

 Persian and Egyptian animals. 



All the foregoing applies to pack mules. For riding we require 

 better shoulders, a good rein and fair action at the trot. As long as 

 they are not too light and leggy they may be of any height. A 

 good riding mule will walk five miles an hour with ease, can trot 

 and canter as smoothly as a horse and will often jump like a 

 deer. Being as sure-footed as a goat he is an excellent mount for a 

 hilly country. As he is wanted for fast work, more care must be 

 devoted to examine him for soundness. 



For draught much the same points must be looked for as in a 

 harness horse, and a mule of any height may be used. 



HANDLING MULES. 

 17. Mules are frequently difficult to handle. They rarely bite, 

 but they are extremely handy with their heels, and kick with both 

 force and precision. Now and then, they strike with their fore-legs. 

 They have too a knack of suddenly sitting down like a dog and then 

 rolling over which is most disconcerting. Beating them and all ill- 

 treatment only make them worse, for they have plenty of pluck and 

 obduracy. There is only one way that I know of dealing with a 

 really refractory mule. Get him by the ear and give it a twist, and 

 he subsides instanter. It has to be done pretty quickly, for they 

 soon learn the trick and do their best to prevent a hold being taken. 



