ASPIDIOTUS. A genus of insects resem bling the bark-lice, or scale insects, and of the same habits and family. They are found on the oleander, rose, bay, cactus and other plants.
ASS. Epos asinus. An animal considered the humblest member of the horse family, but really second only in value to man, when we take into consideration the important place he occupies as a beast of burthen, among the poorer classes in all parts of the civilized world, and also the importance of the mule, the product of the male ass and the mare. The itSS was un The hybrid obtained between the male ass and mare is called a mule, and that between the stal lion and the female ass a hinny. Although the word mule is correct, as applying to a hybrid of any two species, yet the word mule has now come, by common usage, to be applied distinctively to the produce between the "jack" and mare The ass is but little used in the United States except for service in producing mules. These are bred
more or less, in all the western and southern States, but principally in Texas, Kentucky, Ten nessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, form ing an industry of great value, and upon which large sums are yearly spent for superior jacks. These have, from time to time, been imported, until now it is probable no country possesses finer jacks or more able mules. The raising of mules in the United States is principally confined to the States of Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Southern Kansas and Texas, although more or less are raised in nearly every State in the Union, and, as a rule, they sell about twenty-five per cent. higher than the ordi nary horse stock of the country.