Chap. 68 ] 
THE ASS. 
323 
not sure whether this did not exceed tl^ price ever given 
for any other animal. It is certainly a species of animal sin- 
gularly u^ful for labour and ploughing,*^^ but more especially 
for the production of mules.^^ In these animals also, the 
country in which they are born is taken into consideration ; 
in Greece, those from Arcadia^ are the most valued ; and in 
Italy, those of Eeate.^^ The ass is an animal which is unable 
to endure cold,^^ for which reason it is that it is never produced 
in Pontus ; nor is it allowed to cover at the vernal equinox, like 
other cattle, but at the summer solstice. The males are less 
proper for covering, when out of work. The earliest age at 
which the females are ever capable of bearing is the thirtieth 
month, but the usual time begins at the age of three years. 
The number to which it gives birth is the same as the mare, 
which it also resembles, in the length of its gestation, and in 
its mode of bringing forth ; but the female will discharge the 
generative fluid from the womb, being unable to retain it, 
unless by blows she is forced to run immediately after 
being covered. They seldom bring forth two at one birth. 
"When the she-ass is about to bring forth, she shuns the 
light and seeks darkness, in order to escape the observation 
of man. Asses are capable of breeding throughout the 
whole of their life, which extends to thirty years. Their 
attachment to their young is great in the extreme, but their 
aversion to water is still greater. They will pass through fire to 
get at their foals, while the very same animal, if the small- 
sums of money mentioned by the ancients. We read in Varro, B. ii. c 1, 
and B. ii. c. 8, of enormous prices said to have been given for asses, and 
the particular case of Axius is mentioned, B. iii. c. 2 ; according to the 
usual estimate, the sum here mentioned amounts to upwards of £3200 
sterling, — B. 
See B. xvii. c. 5. 
62 Yarro, B. i. c. 20, and B. iii. c. 16, and Columella, B. vii. c. 1, en- 
large upon the valuable qualities of the ass for agricultural purposes ; Co- 
lumella, B. vi. c. 37, treats at length upon the production of mules. — B. 
63 See a passage in Plautus, in which the superior excellence of the asses 
of Arcadia is referred to ; Asinaria, A. ii. sc. 2, L 67. — B. 
6* See B. iii. c. 17. 
65 This property is mentioned by Herodotus, B. iv. c. 28, and by Aristotle, 
Hist. Anim. B. viii. c. 27, also De Gener. Anim. B. ii. c. 8, and by Strabo, 
1>. vii. The ass is a native of Arabia, and degenerates when brought into 
a cold climate. — B. 
66 These circumstances appear to have been taken fmm Aristotle, Hist. 
Anim. B. v. c. 14, and B. vi. c. 23.— B. 
y 2 
