JACKS, JENNETS AND MULES lOI 



duced to fulfill the end for which nature seems to 

 have adapted them, and that only after a long and 

 tedious use of a jennet. For the mare herself he 

 cared no more than he did for the negro groom who 

 held her. This is all the more unfortunate, because 

 they are entirely too small to use with jennets. 



We have heard it said, though we are not willing 

 to vouch for its accuracy, that they have not proven 

 themselves in this country to be satisfactory breeders. 

 We are rather inclined to think that with a mare of 

 merit they would sire a fairly good but small mule. 

 We have seen a few carloads of handsome little mules 

 from Italy, ranging from fourteen to fourteen and 

 one - half hands, and of good form and color. We 

 know nothing of the class of mares producing them. 



I believe them to be inferior to, but at the same 

 time descended from, the Maltese. They have many 

 points of resemblance, and are sufficiently close to- 

 gether for such to be the case; or else the Maltese 

 may be descended from the Italian. 



I will add, in conclusion, that sometimes they are 

 quite vicious (this is one of the points of resem- 

 blance), and in one instance, to our personal knowl- 

 edge, a groom was hurt by one of them by being so 

 severely bitten on the arm as to confine him to his 

 bed for some weeks. It is our observation that small 

 jacks are more apt to develop vicious propensities 

 than large ones, but it will do to keep one's eyes open 

 on any of them. 



THE POITOU. 



The last of the distinctive breeds of jacks to be 

 imported to this country were the Poitou. Their 



