BOOK VIII. Lxvi. 165-LXV111. 168 



it dips its nostrils into the water. The Scythians 

 prefer mares as chargers, because they can make 

 water without checking their gallop. 



LXVII. It is known that in Lusitania" in the Horse- 

 neighbourhood of the town of Lisbon and the river spailif *" 

 Tagus mares when a west wind is blowing stand 

 facing towards it and conceive the breath of life and 

 that this produces a foal, and this is the way to 

 breed a very swift colt, but it does not Hve more than 

 three years. Also in Spain the Gallaic and Asturian 

 tribes breed those of the horse kind that we call 

 ' theldones,' though when more of a pony type 

 they are designated ' cobs ', which have not the 

 usual paces in running but a smooth trot, straightening 

 the near and oflT-side legs alternately, from which the 

 horses are taught by training to adopt an ambUng 

 pace. 



The horse has nearly the same diseases as manldnd, Diseases oj 

 and is also hable to shifting of the bladder, as are "'^ '"'"^* 

 all beasts of the draft class. 



LXVIII. Marcus Varro states that an ass was ^ss- 

 bought for the senator Quintus Axius at 400,000 ^^^ '"^' 

 sesterces,* which perhaps beats the price paid for any 

 other animal. The services of the ass kind are un- 

 doubtedly bountiful in ploughing as well, but 

 especially in breeding mules. In mules also regard 

 is paid to locahty of origin — in Greece the Arcadian 

 breed is esteemed and in Italy the Reatine. The 

 ass itself is very bad at enduring cold, and con- 

 sequently is not bred in the Black Sea district; 

 and it is not allowed to breed at the spring equinox 

 Uke all other cattle, but at midsummer. The males 

 make worse sires when not in work. The females 

 breed at two and a half years old at earhest, but 



voL. III. E 117 



