Hinny is easier to obtain when the lower chromosome count, the donkey, is in the male. Therefore breeding for hinnies is more hit-and-miss than breeding for mules." The male hinny or mule can and will mate, but the emission is not fertile. Male hinnies and mules are usually castrated to help control their behavior by eliminating their interest in females. Female hinnies and mules are not customarily spayed, and may or may not go through estrus. Female mules have been known, on rare occasions, to produce offspring when mated to a horse or donkey, although this is extremely uncommon. Since 1527,
The Adventures of a Donkey Gentleman's Magazine: and Historical Chronicle" said it was 'amusing and agreeable'. The only form of criticism is concerning Argus herself, a book review in the ninth volume of "The Literary Panorama 1806-1819" stated: 'We have repeatedly stated our opinion on the difficulty of writing books for children. Of that difficulty Mrs Argus has not been sufficiently sensible.' They go on to say that she cannot properly distinguish the difference between 'what is childlike and what is childish.' "The Critical Review, Or, The Annals of Literature" 1816 also stated that "The Adventures of a Donkey" lacks ability. The majority of criticism