ASS. 
shagreen, drums, shoes, and a thick parchment 
for the leaves of pocket-books. BufFon says, 
there is also a probability that the bones of 
this animal are harder than those of others ; 
since the ancients made flutes of them, and 
they were found shriller than those made with 
other bones. 
The Ass is, perhaps, the animal which, ia 
proportion to it's size, can carry the greatest 
weight ; and, as it costs but little to feed it, and 
scarcely requires any care, it is of considerable 
juse in many drudgeries which would other- 
wise occupy the horse. Indeed, it is less liable 
,to start, or stumble, than that noble animal; 
and is found serviceable at our mines, in situ- 
itions scarcely accessible to the horse. In 
iountries where the earth is light, the Ass is 
requcntly put to the plough, and it's dung 
5 an excellent manure. 
Though the common tame Ass is of difFe- 
;nt brown shades, from nearly white to almost 
lack, it is generally of a dun, greyish, a.sh- 
>lour ; the lines along the back and over the 
shoulders, 

