1 84 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



black largely prevailing. The coat of hair tends to be thick and 

 short. This breed stands from 14 to 15 and occasionally 16 hands 

 high. From the standpoint of critics of this class of animals 

 the Catalonian possesses unusual style, beauty, and action. The 

 head shows considerable character, and the ears are rarely droopy. 

 While the bone is not so large as the Andalusian or Poitou, it is 

 very superior in texture and free of flesh, so that it is not objec- 

 tionable. The Catalonian is a wiry, tough type that matures 

 early and has very superior style and action. This breed has 

 been largely used as foundation stock for producing mules in 

 Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri, where it is yet in great 

 favor. H. W. Sessions states that the produce of these jacks from 

 16 to 17 hands high, as seen in Missouri, Kansas, and the eastern 

 United States, have much weight and substance and make the 

 best mules in the world. They are quick, active, mature early, 

 and are good sellers. 



The Majorca jack is a breed of more recent introduction to 

 America from Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands in the Medi- 

 terranean Sea off the coast of Spain. This is a large sort of drafty 

 type with heavy bone, averaging I5| hands high, standing some- 

 what higher than the Catalonian. The head and ears are said 

 to be conspicuously large, the latter being longer than those of 

 any other breed and poorly carried. There is a lack of style and 

 action with the Majorca, the tendency being toward sluggishness. 

 The breed has not attained popularity in America, and but few 

 have been brought here. It has, however, met with considerable 

 favor in Spain for producing artillery mules, and many, of the 

 jacks have been exported to South America. In its native home 

 it has long been bred with much purity. 



The Maltese jack comes from the island of Malta in the 

 Mediterranean Sea. This breed is either black or brown in color 

 and is of the smaller type, frequently standing at 13 hands and 

 rarely exceeding 14 1. The head is of excellent form, with sharp, 

 upright ears. The Maltese possesses much life and vigor, but is ob- 

 jected to on account of too fine a bone, undue refinement, and lack 

 of substance. A larger type is in demand in the American trade, 

 which restricts the importation of this breed. Maltese jacks were 

 brought to America as early as 1788, the pioneers of their kind. 



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