Y2 THE MULE. 



to add here, has frequently been without a bite of hay 

 or grain for four or five days, and nothing to eat but 

 what they could pick up along the road. And there are 

 instances when they have been twenty-four hours with- 

 out a sup of water. The experienced eye will see that 

 they have round, compact bodies, and stand well on 

 their feet. 



'No. 2 is the leader of the team, and for light work on 

 the prairies, packing, or any similar work, is a model 

 mule. Indeed, she cannot be surpassed. Her bone and 

 muscle is full, and she is not inclined to run to flesh. 



No, 3 is the off-leader of the same team. She is a 

 good eater, tough, hardy, and a good worker, — in every 

 way a first-class mule. I would advise persons pur- 

 chasing mules to notice her form. She is a little sprung 

 in the knees ; but this has in no way interfered with 

 her working. This was occasioned by allowing the heels 

 on her fore-feet to grow out too much. During, and for 

 some time after, the second battle of Bull Run, the train 

 to which she belonged was kept at very hard work. The 

 shoes that were on her at that time, to use the driver's 

 own language, were "put on to stay." Indeed, he 

 informed me that they were on so long, that he con- 

 cluded they had grown to the feet. And in this case, 

 as in many others, for want of a little knowledge of the 

 peculiarities of a mule's feet, and the injury that results 

 from over-growth, the animal had to suffer, and was 

 permanently injured. 



No. 4 is the off-swing, or middle-leader mule. She 

 is perfectly sound, of good height, a good eater, and a 

 great worker. She is also well adapted for packing, 



