OEDEE OF PACHYDEEMATA, 213 



•which widens on the croup, and, in the males only, is crossed 

 by another band on the shoulders. 



In the books of Moses the Wild Ass is mentioned, so that it 

 was well-knowTi to the ancients. It also figured in the festivals 

 which the Roman emperors gave to the people, to make them 

 forget the loss of their liberty and their grandeur. 



The Domestic Ass (Fig. 64), a degenerate offspring of its wild 

 ancestor, is generally mouse-coloured or silvery grey, mixed with 

 darker shades. Upon its back a black longitudinal dark stripe, 

 crossed over the shoulders by another of similar colour, may be 

 almost invariably found. Its ears are very long, and the tail is 

 tufted at the termination. 



If we compare the Horse and the Ass as regards general 

 ajipearance and carriage, we immediately observe that the head of 

 the Ass is larger in proportion to its body; its ears much more 

 elongated, the forehead and temples more covered with hair ; its 

 eyes are more deeply sunk, the upper lip more pointed, in fact, 

 pendent ; the crest more thick-set, the limbs less upright, and the 

 chest narrower. The back is convex and the spine projecting ; 

 the croup is flat and drooping, and the tail is bare for three- 

 quarters of its length, while the difference in its carriage is still 

 more apparent. If we add to all this, that the vocal utterance of 

 the Horse is a neigh, marked with considerable power and pride, 

 whilst that of the Ass is a discordant bray, we may perhaps be 

 led to depreciate too much this poor animal. It is, nevertheless, 

 worthy of occupying a large place in our esteem. ^Ye must, in 

 the first jDlace, bear in mind that the Ass is not a degenerate 

 Horse, but that it constitutes a distinct race, has its own special 

 individuality and characteristics, and consequently we ought to 

 pass judgment upon it without any odious comparisons. 



" "\Yhy," says Buffbn, very justly, " is there so much contempt 

 for an animal so good, so patient, so abstemious, and so useful ? 

 Can it be that men despise, even in animals, tliose who serve thcra 

 too well and at too little expense ? We confer on the Horse a 

 degree of education; he is cared for, he is trained, and he is 

 exercised, whilst the Ass is handed over to the mercy of the 

 lowest servant, or to the malice of children, and, so far from 

 improving by education, he must almost always be the worse for 

 it ; if he did not possess a large supply of good qualities he would, 



