BOOK X. Lxxxiii. 1 78-181 



times even twenty. But they do not breed all their 

 lives, ceasing usually at the age of twelve. 



The cat and the mougoose resemble dogs in other Breedvig oj 

 respects, but their length of hfe is ten " years. Rab- 0"/"°"* 

 bits breed in every month of the year, and superfetate, ^fcies. 

 as do hares ; after giving birth they pair again at once. 

 They conceive although still suckHng their previous 

 Htter, but the young are bHnd. Elephants, as we 

 have said,* bear one young one at a time, of the size 

 of a three months old calf. Camels cai-ry their young 

 twelve months ; they begin breeding at the age of 

 three, in the spring, and mate again a year after giving 

 birth. Mares on the other hand are beHeved not to Horse- 

 be profitably sired till three years old, and not before '^^ '"^' 

 a year after their last foaHng ; when they are un- 

 wilHng, compulsion is used. It is beHeved that she- 

 asses conceive quite easily even a week after deHvery. 

 It is said that mares' manes ought to be cHpped to 

 make them submit to ahow coupHng with asses, as 

 having long manes makes them proud and high-spirited. 

 Mares are the only animals that after coupHng run 

 in a northerly or southerly direction according as they 

 have conceived a male or a female foal. Immediately 

 afterwards they change the colour of their coat for a 

 deeper red or a darker hue of whatever their colour 

 is : this marks their ceasing to be able to couple, 

 even if wiUing to do so. Some are not hindered from 

 work by foaHng, and are in foal without its being 

 known. We find it on record that a mare in foal 

 belonging to a ThessaHan named Echecratides 

 won a race at Olympia. It is stated by excep- 

 tionally careful authorities that horses, dogs and 

 swine Hke mating in the morning, but that the 

 females make approaches in the afternoon ; that 



407 



