THE DONKEY. II7 



and Barbs, are not nearly so addicted to shying as 

 are those that Hve where there are bushes and 

 trees which might harbour an enemy. Now, 

 the donkey's forefathers hved for long ages 

 where there was but little danger of foes lying 

 in ambush ; hence perhaps his freedom from the 

 habit. 



The eyes of the donkey are not so prominent 

 and quick as those of the horse, nor does he so 

 often turn his head about to sniff the air ; but we 

 all must acknowledge that in development of the 

 ear he excels his proud relation. On the sandy 

 or grassy plains, where the sound of footsteps is 

 deadened, the eye is most valuable as a sentry, 

 and the breeze blowing evenly across the open 

 to the nostrils of the wild horse not only gives 

 warning of the approach of a foe but reveals the 

 direction from which the danger comes. But 

 amouCT the his^h rocks and gorges of a mountain- 

 ous region the wind is gusty and fitful ; and there 

 are many projecting crags round which a prowl- 

 ing enemy might creep unseen to within springing 

 distance. Here the keenness of the auditory 

 sense is much more important. The rolling of 

 a loose stone down the slope, or the sound of 

 approaching footsteps among the hard rocks and 



