BOOK X. XXIV. 46-49 



the sunrise to creep upon us unawares, but herald 

 the coming day with song, while they herald that 

 song itself with a flapping of their wings against their 

 sides. They lord it over their own race, and exercise 

 royal sway in whatever household they Hve. This 

 sovereignty they win by duelHng with one another, 

 seeming to understand that weapons grow upon 

 their legs for this purpose, and often the fight only 

 ends when they die together. If they win the palm, 

 they at once sing a song of victory and proclaim 

 themselves the champions, while the one defeated 

 hides in silence and with difficulty endures servitude. 

 Yet even tlie common herd struts no less proudly, 

 with upHfted neck and combs held high, and alone of 

 birds casts frequent glances at the sky, also rearing 

 its curved tail aloft. Consequently even the Hon, 

 the noblest of wild animals, is afraid of the cock. 

 Moreover some cocks are born solely for constant 

 wars and battles — by which they have even con- 

 ferred fame on their native places, Rhodes or Tana- 

 gra ; the fighting cocks of Melos and Chalcidice 

 have been awarded second honours — so that the 

 Roman purple confers its high honour on a bird full 

 worthy of it. These are the birds that give the 

 Most-Favourable Omens " ; these birds daily control 

 our officers of state, and shut or open to them their 

 own homes ; these send forward or hold back the 

 Roman rods of office, and order or forbid battle 

 formation, being the auspices of ah our victories 

 won all over the world ; these hold supreme empire 

 over the empire of the world, being as acceptable 

 to the gods with even their inward parts and vitals 

 as are the costHest victims. Even their later 

 and their evening songs contain portents ; for by 



323 



