Asrael
the Mohammedan angel of death, who takes the soul from the body.
ASS (asinus), a genus of perissodactyla closely relatel to the horse. The domestication took place at an early date, probably before that of the horse, from a type like the present Abyssinian ass The dwarfing and degeneration so gener- (A. tæniopus), and apparently in Asia; ally exhibited are the results rather of land only since Queen Elizabeth's time. ally exhibited are the results rather of ill-treatment and careless breeding than Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Spain, Kentucky, and elsewhere, the asses are well cared for, and the breed has been considerably the domesticated forms in some favorable parts of the East plainly indicates. In Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Spain, Kentucky, and elsewhere, the asses are well cared for, and the breed has been considerably varied and improved; a Spanish he-ass of a good breed may be worth $1,000. The result of hybridism between horse and female ass. The mule is much nearer in temper and appearance to the ass than male ass, while the hinny is the rarer resembles the horse more, as it neighs, female ass. The mule is much nearer in temper and appearance to the ass than to the horse; the hinny in some points resembles the horse more, as it neighs, while the mule brays like the ass.
The various species of wild asses are degenerate donkey. They have shorter ears, and longer, finer limbs. The shy, swift A. onager occurs in herds in the handsomer in form than the familiar ark stripes on its back, inears, and longer, finer limbs. The shy, swift A. onager occurs in herds in the Asiatic deserts, migrating southward in winter. The large, handsome A. hem- ionus, with dark stripes on its back, inwinter. The large, handsome A. hemalready noted as the probable ancestor ionus, with dark habits high plateaus from Tibet to Mon- golia. The Abyssinian form has been already noted as the probable ancestor golia. The Abyssinian form has been of the donkey. The even wilder zebras won booty is much esteemed. The milk and quaggas will be discussed separately.
The wild ass is hunted in the East, e. g., in Persia; and the flesh of the hardlye. g., consumptives. The leather called shagreen is made by a peculiar process of the ass is more sugary and less cheesy than that of the cow, and is on that account recommended to some invalidsshagreen is made by a peculiar process from the skin, which is also utilized for shoes and drums.