THE DOMESTIC ASS 



243 



valuable ones were brought over in merchant's ships. 

 Formerly" the Maltese jacks were broadspread, but in re- 

 cent years they have become rather unpopular because 

 of their small size; 



The Catalonian jack. — ^This breed was developed in 

 northeastern Spain adjacent to France, particularly in 

 Catalonia, although it 

 is widespread and often 

 found in France. The 

 color is usually black, 

 and often jet-black, 

 which is marked with 

 light points about the 

 muzzle, eyes and belly. 

 While brown of vary- 

 ing shades is some- 

 times found, it is un- 

 common. The hair is 

 naturally thick and 

 short. The size is 

 classed as large, the 

 height averaging 14.2 

 to 15 hands, with good 

 specimens occasionally 

 exceeding this height. 

 The Catalonian is a jack 

 of great style and 

 beauty and superb action. The head is trim and neat, 

 with ears well carried, suggestive of character. The 

 bone, while not large, is very hard, fine of texture, and 

 free from meatiness. The breed is wiry, tough and ma- 

 tures early. 



The Catalonian in America. — In 1832, Henry Clay in- 

 troduced an excellent specimen of this breed to Ken- 

 tucky. This jack was so successful and his popularity 

 grew so rapidly that Clay imported a number of other^ 

 of this breed. At an early date a few jacks of this breed 



Fig. 124. — Catalonian Jack 



