5 
ClafsI.] QUADRUPEDS. 
SPECIES II. 
The ASS. 
Ran fyn. quad. 63. 
Gefn. quad. 5. 
Klein, quad. 6. 
Buffon. Tom. 4, 404. 
Equus Auriculis longis flaccidis, 
juba brevi. BriJJon quad. 102. 
Equus afinus. Lin. fyft. 73: 
Eq. caudae extremitate fetola cruce 
nigra fuper humeros. FaunSuec. 35 
Britijh , A fyn, fern* afeii 
French , Ane, f aneffe 
Italian , Afino, miccio. f miccia 
Spanijh , Afno, Borrico. f Borriea 
NAMES./ 
Portug. Alho. Burro, f Afna, Burra 
German , Efel 
Dutch , Eezel 
Swedijh y Afna 
HIS animal, tho* now fo com¬ 
mon in all parts of thefe iflands, 
was not introduced among us, till 
after the reign of queen Elizabeth. Hoi 
lingjloead informs us, that in his time, u our 
lande did yeelde no ajfed\ We are not cer¬ 
tain of the time they were firft imported} 
probably it was in the fucceeding reign, when 
our intercourfe with Spain was renewed } in 
which country this animal was greatly ufed, 
and where the breed is in great perfection. 
The afs is originally a native of Arabia , 
and other parts of the Eajl: a warm climate 
produces the largeft and the belt, their fize 
and fpirit declining in proportion as they ad¬ 
vance into colder regions : the migration of 
thefe heafts has been very flow} we fee how 
recent their arrival is in Great-Britain : in 
Sweden * they are even at prefent a fort of 
rarity, nor does it appear by the laft hiftory 
of Norway f that they have yet reached that 
country. They are at prefent naturalized in 
this kino-dom : our climate and foil feems to 
agree with them; the breed is fpread thro’ 
all parts; and their utility is more and more 
experienced. x 
They are now introduced into many fervices 
that were before allotted to horfes} which will 
prove of the utmoft ufe in faving thofe noble 
animals for worthier purpofes. Many of our 
richeft mines are in fituations almoft inaccef- 
fible to horfes} but where thefe fure footed 
creatures may be employed to advantage, in 
conveying our mineral treafures to their re- 
fpedive marts} we may add too, that fince 
our horfes are become a confiderable article of 
commerce, and bring annually great fums into 
thefe kingdoms} the cultivation of an animal 
that will in many cafes fupply the place of the 
former, and enable us to enlarge our exports, 
certainly merits our attention. The 
•f- Pontoppidan’s rlat. hiftory of Norway. 
* Habitat in magnatum prcedi'n rari'us. Faun fuec. 35. 
