498 PLINY'S NATUKAL HISTOET. [Book X. 



\dctoiy'^ which they gained over the Lacedsemonians ; such, 

 in fact, "being the interpretation that was put upon it by way 

 of prognostic, as this hird, when conquered, is never known to 

 crow. 



CHAP. 25. HOW COCKS ARE CASTRATED. A COCK THAT ONCE 



SPOKE. 



When castrated, cocks cease to crow. This operation is 

 performed two diiferent ways. Either the loins of the animal 

 are seared with a red-hot iron, or else the lower part of the 

 legs ; after which, the wound is covered up with potter's clay : 

 this way they are fattened much more easily. At Pergamus,^" 

 there is every year a public show of fights of game-cocks, just 

 as in other places we have those of gladiators. 



We find it stated in the Eoman Annals, that in the^^ consul- 

 ship of M. Lepidus and Q. Catulus a dung-hill cock spoke, at 

 the farm-house of Galerius ; the only occasion, in fact, that I 

 know of. 



CHAP. 26. (22.) THE GOOSE. 



The goose also keeps a vigilant guard ; a fact which is well 

 attested by the defence of the Capitol, at a moment when, by 

 the silence of the dogs, the commonwealth had been betrayed :^^ 

 for which reason it is that the Censors always, the first thing 

 of all, attend to the farming-out of the feeding of the sacred 

 geese. What is still more, too, there is a love-story about this 

 animal. At ^gium one is said to have conceived a passion for 

 a beautiful boy, a native of Olenos,^^ and another for Glance, 

 a damsel who was lute-player to King Ptolemy ; for whom at 

 the same time a ram is said also to have conceived a passion. 

 One might almost be tempted to think that these creatures 

 have an appreciation of wisdom :^* for it is said, that one of 



■^9 Mentioned by Cicero, De Divin, B. 1. 



^^ The same too at Athens, in one of the theatres, in remembrance, 

 JElian says, of the victory gained by Themistocles over the Persians. 



81 A.u.c. 676. 



82 When the Capitol was besieged by the Gauls. 



^ Near Patrae, in Achaia. -Sllian gives his name as Amphilochus, 

 ^ A singular quality in a goose, ^lian says, that Lacydes was a peri- 

 patetic philosopher, and that he honoured the goose with splendid obsequies, 

 when it died. 



