II] OF DOGS 217 



ing outwards^ rather than inwards; the feet big 

 and broad, spreading^ out as they walk; the toes 

 well separated, claws hard and curved ; soles not 

 horny or too hard, but rather as it were spongy and 

 soft; the body tucked in near the top of the thighs, 

 the spine neither prominent nor curved, and the 

 tail thick. The bark should be deep, the stretch of 

 jaw' great, the colour preferably white,'* because 

 they are thus more easily recognized in the dark, 

 and their appearance should be lion-like. Breeders 

 like the bitches to have, besides, breasts furnished 



' Potius varis. Cf. Geoponica {loc. cif.): aicafifioTtpa fxdXXov 



^ Displodantur. Cf. note to ii, 5, 8. 

 Hiatu magno. tovq fiiya to xdofxa tx^vraQ (Geoponica, loc. 

 cit). 



* Potissimum albo. Columella {loc. cit.) says white for the 

 sheep-dog, black for the house-dog. The former is to be white 

 so that in the dark mornings or the twilight of evening he 

 may readily be distinguished from a beast of prey, and may 

 not be killed by the shepherd in mistake. The black house- 

 dog is a terrible fellow, "big, black, thick-set — his head so 

 large as to seem the largest part of his body — with drooping 

 ears, black or yellow eyes gleaming with a fierce light," etc. 

 And again: "The watch-dog is a policeman, and if the thief 

 comes in broad daylight the dog looks more terrible being 

 black, while if the burglar come at night the watch-dog is 

 not visible at all owing to his likeness to a shadow, and so 

 can get at him more safely. . . . The sheep-dog need not 

 be so lean and fleet as the stag-hound nor so stout or heavy as 

 the watch-dog. He must, however, be very strong and to 

 some extent quick and vigorous, as he is expected to be able 

 both to fight and run — to drive off the crafty wolf or follow 

 him and make him drop his prey." 



