614 
VERTEBEATA. 
THE DOMESTIC ASS. 
are of two or three kinds, a part of them onagers, which are a distinct though clearly allied 
species, and a part the offspring of domestic animals escaped to the ■wilderness, and a part mules 
bred between these and the onager. 
But leaving this subject as one upon which different authors may safely disagree, we proceed 
to describe the most docile, humble, and patient of the servants of man, the Common Ass, In its 
anatomy and physiology this is nearly the same as the horse. Its color varies, but is commonly 
gray, with a dark longitudinal band on the back, crossed on the shoulders by a similar band. 
Sometimes the limbs are obscurely zebraed, especially in the young. It is as diversified in size 
as the horse, some being found in India, Barbary, and Southern Europe no larger than a New- 
foundland dog, while others are nearly of the size of the horse. They are also of many breeds, 
some being valued for their speed and gracefulness of form, and others only noted for their fru- 
gality, patience, and endurance. In general, they are regarded as humble drudges, slow, stupid, 
and given up to the lowest uses of the poor. Buffon appreciates their character more justly iii 
the following passages : 
"The ass is, then, an ass, and not a horse degenerated; the ass has a naked tail; he is neither 
a stranger, an intruder, nor a bastard; he has, like all other animals, his family, his species, and 
his rank ; his blood is pure ; and although his nobility is less illustrious, yet it is equally good, 
equally ancient with that of the horse. AVhy then have we so much contempt for this animal : 
so good, so patient, so steady, so useful? Do men carry their contempt even to animals, those 
which serve them so well, and at so small an expense ? We bestow education on the horse, take 
care of him, instruct him, and exercise him, while the ass is abandoned to the care of the lowest 
servant, or the tricks of children ; so that, instead of improving, he miist lose by his education : 
indeed, if he had not a fund of good qualities he would certainly lose all that is valuable by the 
manner in which he is treated. He is the make-game of the rustics, who beat him wdth staffs, over- 
load him, and make him work beyond his strength. "We do not consider that the ass would be in 
himself and with respect to us, the most beautiful, the best formed, and most distinguished of animals 
if there were no horse in. the world ; he is the second, instead of being the first, and it is from that 
only that he appears to be of no value ; the comparison degrades him ; we look at him, and give 
