TO ENGLISH NEEDS. 153 



may be estimated in the light of the fact 

 that the hybrid is incapable of production, 

 notwithstanding alleged instances to the 

 contrary. 



The mule, as most persons are aware, 

 is the offspring of the union between the 

 horse and the ass, and may be bred 

 either from stallion pony and female ass, 

 when it is called a mtite or hinny ; or from 

 the Jack donkey and mare, which is the 

 mule proper. The former is smaller and 

 more pony-like, with longer mane and finer 

 ears ; but it is of very little value com- 

 pared with the latter, and in consequence 

 is but little bred in Poitou, which province 

 is the headquarters of the mule-breeding 

 industry in Europe. Eew persons in this 

 country, where the mule is so little esteemed, 

 have perhaps any idea of the extent to which 

 they are bred in this part of Prance. Mule- 

 breeding, as there carried on, forms a great 

 local industry. Ten years ago (we learn 



