88 
CONCEPTION, &C. OF A MULE. 
appears to have gained strength with age. Some persons have 
attributed this incapacity to a vicious conformation in their genito- 
urinal apparatus. • 
In setting out, it may be as well to observe, that we apply the 
name mule to any animal the product of the commerce of two indi- 
viduals of different species ; such, for example, among birds, are 
the offspring from the canary coupling with the goldfinch; and, 
among quadrupeds, from the intercourse between the ass and the 
mare, or between the stallion and female ass. In the latter case, 
therefore, it appears, two generations have had this name given to 
them. In English, we remain without any distinctive appellation 
for these, though among the French the former goes by the name 
of mulet , the latter by that of bar dot. Such distinctions are re- 
quisite, from the circumstance of one species of mule differing from 
the other. The mulet — the offspring of the male horse and female 
ass — is much larger than the bardot ; possesses a longer and more 
developed neck, rounder sides and croup, and elevated haunches ; 
and is a very strong, hardy animal, capable of enduring a great 
deal of fatigue ; contenting himself with ordinary and scanty fare, 
and being but little obnoxious to disease. On the contrary, the 
bardot is small and low in stature, with a short thin neck, salient 
back, pointed croup, and low and drooping haunches ; insomuch 
that, when we come to compare the two, we feel disposed to agree 
in opinion with Buffon, who affirmed that in the female resided 
the unity of the species: for certain, in the examples just given, 
the horse is paramount in one instance, while the ass predominates 
in the character of the other. Beyond these characteristics, how- 
ever, are secondary qualities which belong to the sire, as is exem- 
plified in the voice of the mulet , in his large ears, the shape of his 
head, form of his tail, slender sinewy limbs, and long narrow hoofs ; 
while in the bardot we have the neighing voice, the small head, 
the short ears, the tail clothed from above downwards with hair, 
the large limbs, &c. Thus, Aristotle, describing the mule, has 
written, — 
“ Magnitudine corporis et viribus magis fceminse quam mari 
simile evadit quod nascitur;” and Columella, on the same subject, 
has said, “ qui ex equa et asina concepti, generantur, quamnis a 
patre nomen traxerunt, metri per omnia magis similes sunt.” 
There are instances on record, both ancient and modern, of mules 
having generated, but the one given by M. Nanzio is more com- 
plete and instructive. In the Commune d' Auzano, province of 
Capi Sanata, a mule, the property of Francis Messrangeli, foaled 
on the 15th of July, 1844. The novelty of the event astonished 
the inhabitants of the province, and the prefect sent for the district 
veterinary surgeon, who, through his report of the circumstance, 
