THE ASS 129 



the outside ring of horn, is so formed that it grows again just as 

 fast as it is worn away. 



You will remember that, when reading about the "animal 

 army", and the way in which their bodily frames may be regarded 

 as their uniforms, we pointed out how very careful Nature is to 

 suit every part of an animal's body to the life which that animal 

 is intended to lead. We can find no better example of this 

 creative care than in the hoof of a horse. 



THE ASS 



Those who have spent a holiday at the sea-side will know well 

 the Ass, or Donkey as it is more commonly called, for they will, 

 of course, have enjoyed the fun of a donkey-ride on the sands. 

 This animal, though less in size, is in many ways as useful as the 

 horse. In fact it was used by man as a beast of burden many 

 hundred years before the horse was subjugated, and held quite an 

 important position as a domestic animal. But nowadays, in our 

 own country, it has to be content with a very humble station, for 

 it is mostly the servant of the poorer classes, who, unfortunately, 

 very often try its patience severely. 



In its wild state the ass is a swift and spirited animal, but it 

 is easily tamed, though when domesticated it seems to lose much 

 of its brightness, which perhaps is mainly owing to bad treatment. 

 A poor depressed donkey is a pitiful sight. It hangs its head, 

 and we might imagine it to be thinking of its more lively and 

 happier freedom. 



As a domestic animal it is given to fits of obstinacy. At 

 such times it stands stock-still in the middle of the road, and is 

 only brought back to the reality of life by heavy blows with a 

 stick, just as a boy who has been dreaming in school of football 

 or cricket is brought to his senses by a sharp stroke across his 

 knuckles from the master. 



A story is told of a donkey that was so stubborn that it would 

 not move, till at last its master tied a wisp of hay to the shaft 

 in front of it and just beyond its reach. Then there was not a 



(M868) K 



