II] OF PIGS 173 



of the little pigs, which is called porculatio^ these 

 are left with the mother a couple of months; then, 

 when they can feed for themselves, are separated 

 from her. Pigs born in the winter become thin ^ 

 owing to the cold, and because the mothers having 

 but little milk, and in consequence finding their 

 teats hurt by the young ones' teeth, push them 

 away. 



Every sow should have her own sty, and rear her 

 own litter only, for she does not refuse to feed 

 another's little ones; if, therefore, they get mixed, ^ 

 14 the sow becomes worse for breeding. Their year is 

 naturally divided into two parts, as they give birth 

 twice within the year, a sow being pregnant four 

 months, and suckling for two. The sty should be 



* Exiles. The Geoponica (xix, 6) say ** owing to the inclem- 

 ency of the weather and the fact that they do not get enough 

 milk from their mothers, who push them away, as their teats 

 lacking milk are violently squeezed and pulled by the teeth of 

 the young ones. As to the teeth, cf. Pliny (N. H., viii, 51): 

 Diebus X, circa hrumam statim dentatos nasci Nigidius tradit. 

 In winter they are born with teeth. 



* Conturbati. Cf. Geoponica (xix, 6): ware /zr) fiiywaOai 

 iXXrikotQ TO. irapd. iiatpSpuv Tucrofifva — lav yap aXA^Xotf ovvava^iyT], 

 iiirvarov iiayvuivai ahra tclq TtKovoaQ. If the young of different 

 mothers are mixed, it is impossible for the mothers to dis- 

 tinguish their own. Columella (vii, 9, 11): Nam facillime 

 Porci^ si evaserint haram, tniscent se^ et scrofa cum decubuit 

 aeque alieno ac suo praebet ubera. From the last words of this 

 passage it is obvious that the non inserted by Keil before 

 tupematur is necessary. It was omitted by the scribe no doubt 

 owing to the nos oi alienos immediately before it. 



Columella recommends the branding of sow and pigs. 



