THE MULE 



249 



tury. Notwithstanding ours is one of the newest coun- 

 tries in the world, it was left to us to establish the true 

 economic value of the mule. At present more than one- 

 half of all the mules in the world are to be found in the 

 United States. This recognition of the value of the mule 

 is very largely due to the intelligence of our Southerners, 

 who were the first to adapt him to general purposes. 



The characteristics of the mule. — Like all other 

 animals, the mule inherits qualities from both sire and 

 dam. Thus the mule differs from the horse. The head 

 is larger and more clearly de- 

 fined; the ears are longer; the 

 foretop, mane and tail tufted; 

 the body smaller and more 

 cylindrical; the quarters not 

 so heavily muscled, although, 

 considering size, the mule is 

 equally as strong, if, indeed, he 

 is not more powerful than the 

 horse; the legs are superior in 

 quality; and the feet of the 

 mule are smaller and longer 

 than those of the horse, with 

 the arch of the hoof greater. 



The mule is exceedingly vari- 

 able in size and weight, depending on the parentage. On 

 the market mules are divided into classes according to 

 their size and the work they are capable of performing 

 (p. 320). 



While the color is exceedingly variable, black, brown 

 and bay, with light points, are the most popular. The 

 color is a very important consideration in America, there- 

 fore, blue, gray, white, buckskin, yellow and like colors 

 are objectionable. In temperament, the mule is quiet and 

 patient. He is less nervous, less subject to fright, and 

 more certain than the horse. For hard pulling and steadi- 

 ness in the collar he has no equal in the world. The 



