214 VARRO ON FARMING [bk. 



mane and tail like those of an ass. Like horses, 

 too, they remain in the mother's womb for twelve 

 months; they are reared and fed in the same way 

 as horses, and their age is likewise inferred from 

 their teeth. 



CHAPTER IX 



OF DOGS 



1 Said Atticus: Of quadrupeds dogs now remain to' 

 be discussed — a subject particularly interesting to 

 us who feed wool-bearing stock. For the dog is the 

 guardian of those animals which need its com- 

 panionship for defence. Amongst these sheep come 

 first, she-goats second. These the wolf is ever try- 

 ing to catch, and against him we set dogs to defend 

 them. Of the pig kind, however, some animals can 

 defend themselves, namely, boars, hogs, and sows — 

 for these animals closely resemble wild boars which 

 in the woods have often been known to kill dogs with 



2 their tusks. I need hardly mention the larger cattle, 

 for I know that when a herd of mules have been 

 feeding, and a wolf has appeared on the scene, the 



familiar term for a donkey, and in French hourrique means an 

 dne chHif. All these names are probably connected with the 

 red colour mentioned by Varro, for we know from Festus that 

 burrus in rustic Latin was used for rufus. It is of course the 

 Latin equivalent of Trvppog (Dor. wippixog). 



