278 -^6**5*^5:^. 



to say, in most cases the offspring of mares that have 

 previously bred to donkeys, and have endowed their young 

 with some of the characteristics of their former asinine lovers. 

 Both the mule and the jennet respectively '* take after " their 

 dam in size ; and their sire, in appearance and disposition. 



I know nothing respecting the question of the fertility of 

 the respective crosses between the different kinds of asses, 

 true or striped. 



Varieties of Asses. — These animals may be divided into 

 the true or whole coloured asses, includmg the domestic or 

 Abyssinian ass, the onager, and the kiang ; and the striped 

 asses, comprising the mountain zebra, BurchelFs zebra, Gr6vy's 

 zebra, and the quagga 



The Domestic and Abyssinian Wild Ass {Equus 

 asinuSy Fig 272). — The domestic ass or donkey is, with hardly 

 any doubt, identical with the handsome and speedy wild ass 

 which is found in North-eastern Africa, and which is known 

 as the Abyssinian wild ass. The chief characteristics which 

 distinguish it from other asses is the possession of a nearly 

 vertical black stripe running down the shoulders, from the 

 front of the withers, and the narrowness of the stripe down 

 the back. These two stripes, which are, as a rule, only from 

 a half to three-quarters of an inch wide, make the well- 

 known cross. Sir William Flower states that the shoulder 

 stripe is '^sometimes double, and not infrequently altogether 

 absent." I believe the stripe down the back is now and 

 then wanting. It is not uncommonly seen among native bred, 

 and especially dun-coloured, horses m India. This wild ass 

 is of a light mouse colour except on the muzzle, under part 

 of the body, and inside of the legs, which are more or 

 less white. Its coat, particularly in the case of the domestic 

 ass, may vary from white to a very dark brown, or even 

 black, with tan '* points." Both in a wild and tame state, it 

 frequently shows dark horizontal stripes on its fore arms. It 

 resembles the mountain zebra in having very large ears, 



