Mammals The Donkey 
. the little animals that today bear the burdens for 
the farmers along the Nile. 
George Washington introduced donkeys to the 
agriculturists of the United States. Spain had long 
been in the lead in breeding these animals; and to 
export one from that country was prohibited. But 
the King of Spain, learning of Washington’s desire, 
sent him two as a present. The donkey is used 
extensively today in the southwestern United States 
and Mexico, where its strength and endurance 
as a beast of burden make it most useful. It is 
there called a burro. Donkeys are used extensively 
in southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. 
The best breeds are now found in Smyrna, the Is- 
lands of Cypress, Spain and Peru. 
The donkey is able to thrive upon food which 
would starve a horse. It can subsist on one-fourth 
the food necessary to keep a horse, and it can carry 
burdens on its back for long distances which would 
break down a horse; and it carries these burdens 
over steep mountains, and roads where a horse 
would stumble and fall. Its hoof is longer and nar- 
rower, and more upright than that of the horse; 
and the joint above it, called the pastern, is shorter 
and stiffer, which renders its feet less likely to become 
lame; and since the hoof is thicker and therefore 
tougher than that of the horse, it is able to climb 
mountains and rocky trails which would tear and 
bruise the horse’s feet. 
The donkey is a friend of the poor man, because 
it can pick up a living at little expense. When 
treated well, it is as affectionate as a dog. The 
mother donkey is exceedingly fond of her colt. 
The noted obstinacy of the animal comes probably 
from long generations of cruel treatment. It is 
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