CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDEE 10. SOLIDUNGULA. 617 
THft ABYSSINIAN MULE. 
The Mule,* Squus Asinus — variety Mulus — is tlie hybrid produce of an ass with a mare, 
having a clums}^ head, long, erect ears, a sliort mane, and a thin tail. The Hinny, E. Asinus 
or Hmnus, is the hybrid of a she-ass with a stallion. Of this the head is long and thin, the ears 
like those of a horse, the mane short, the tail well-filled with hair. It is less hardy and useful 
and is not often bred. The mule is greatly valued in some countries for the saddle and for draw- 
ing vehicles. They are of various breeds and of various sizes ; those bred from Spanish mares 
are sometimes fifteen and sixteen hands high, and sell for one hundred and fifty to two hundred 
quick as flashes of light. The Jacks wage a fearful wai-fare with stallions, generally coming off victorious by obtain- 
ing a bull-dog hold of the windpipe, and never relinquishing their grasp until the noble animal falls fatally bitten or 
strangled to death. 
" The donkey has neither the obstinacy nor malice of the mule, but is rather of a kind and gientle disposition. His 
laziness and artful tricks are what sometimes render him vexatious. 
"But considering his patience, gentle disposition, strength, power of endurance, and regarding him as the father 
of mules, the donhey or ass deserves to rank high among useful animals." 
* The term Mule, which properly signifies the hybrid offspring of an ass and mare, is applied to other hybrids, so 
that we even say a mule Canary bird. Under this head, therefore, Gervais furnishes us with the following curious 
list of hybrids that have been produced between some of the more prominent classes of quadrupeds : 
Hybrids among the EquiDiE. — The ass with the mare produces the variety, mule. ; the French call the male offspring 
mulet and the female mwfe. They apply the term lardeau to the offspring of the horse with the female ass. 
The ffisshas bred with the female zebra at Knovfsley, in Lord Derby's menagerie. 
The zehra has bred with the female ass at the Garden of Plants, Paris. 
The ass has bred with the onager both at Kuowsley and the Garden of Plants. 
The male onager has bred with the dauiu at Knowsley. 
Hybrids among the Bovid.e. — The commion hull and cow have bred with the Amerimn Mson. 
The ItuU has bred with the zeb'U and with the yak, and the yah with the zebu. 
The zehu has bred with the jungle cow ; Gray considers the offspring to be the gagal. 
Hybrids asiong Sheep and Goats. — The domestic sheep has bred with the mo'uflon of Corsica, and the ibex or bou- 
quetin has bred with the domestic goat. Several other instances of mixture between domestic sheep and goats and the 
allied wild species are known. . 
Hybrids among Debk. — The 2^seudaxis has bred with the axis, and the cenms gymnotus has bred with the C. Vir- 
ginianus. 
Hybrids among Dogs.— The wolf has bred with the domestic dog ; also with the dingo of Iv'ew Holland ; the dog has 
bred with the jackal. 
Hybrids among the Cat Family. — The lion has bred with the tigress in a menagerie at London. 
Hybrids among the Rodentia.— The porcurjine has bred with the Javan acanfhion at the menagerie of the Zoologi- 
cal Society of London. 
Hybrids among Monkeys.— The common macule has bred with the rltesns macake and the crownerl macake ; the 
grivet has bred Avith the common macake. 
Various hybrids among different species of domestic animals, as liogs, lama^s, camels, kc, are also known. 
YOL. I.— 78 
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