THE ASS 187 



The color of the jack has in recent years been subject to con- 

 siderable discussion. Until comparatively recently black has been 

 the standard color, with whitish or. mealy shades on the underside 

 of the body, between the forelegs and the thighs, and about the 

 muzzle. Fancy animals, also, were often marked with mealy color 

 around the eyes and under the throttle. The American Breeders' 

 Association of Jacks and Jennets adopted the above for its stand- 

 ard on color requirements. The Standard Jack and Jennet Regis- 

 try of America, however, composed of a large number of breeders, 

 admits jacks of any color to its books, provided other requirements 

 are satisfactory. In support of other colors than black attention 

 is called to the following facts. Jacks are generally used to sire 

 nonbreeding animals. The market desires mules of good con- 

 formation and bone irrespective of color. The first jacks imported 

 to America were gray, and maltese. "Off color'' jacks produce 

 just as many black offspring as some of the black sires. It is 

 not wise to destroy a good jack because he happens to breed back 

 to some former color, which is sure to happen with the mixe'd 

 colors. It is interesting to note in reference to color that irregular 

 marks on the coat, such as a "blaze " or " star" on the head, or 

 "white stockings" on the legs, while common on the horse, are 

 rare with the ass. Hayes says,^ " I believe I am correct in saying 

 that the color of the ass is never of a bright bay, chestnut, red 

 or blue roan, or nutmeg gray. I have seen mules of an iron-gray 

 color, but have not observed it in the ass." 



The height of the jack will depend upon the breed and degree 

 of maturity. In examining the records of a number of Catalonian 

 jacks in the studbooks, the average height was 15 hands, while 

 a number of Majorcas averaged 15! hands. Jennets showed 

 about a half hand less. Tegetmeier and Sutherland give the 

 height of the Poitou jack as 13^ to 15 hands, and the jennets 

 at 13 to 14 hands. In 1877 Richardson describes the Poitou as 

 standing I3| to I4| hands, while Sessions says they rarely exceed 

 14I. If the jack is of good proportions, then is| to 16 hands 

 is looked upon with favor in the American jack, with the females 

 standing about I4|- hands. Referring to this matter of height 

 Anderson and Hooper state that " it is better for a breeder to be 



