BOOK VIII.] History of Nature. 85 



suffer him to live above a certain Number of Years ; at the 

 end of which they drown him in a Fountain of the Priests, 

 and then, with Mourning, seek another, which they substi- 

 tute in his Place. Until they find him they mourn and 

 shave their Heads. But they never are long before they 

 meet with another : and when they have found him, he is by 

 the Priests brought to Memphis, where he hath two Shrines 

 (Delubra), which they call Thalami (Bed-chambers), which 

 are the Auguries of the People. For if this Ox enter into 

 one of them, it is a good Sign ; but if into the other, it por- 

 tendeth Misfortune. He gives Answers to private Persons by 

 taking Meat from the Hand of such as consult him. He 

 turned away from the Hand of Germanicus Ccesar, and not 

 long afterwards he died. He is kept secret for the most Part : 

 but when he hath got forth to the Multitude, he proceeds 

 with a Guard of Lictors, and a Flock of Boys accompany 

 him, singing a Hymn to his Honour : for he seemeth to 

 understand, and is pleased to be worshipped. These Com- 

 panies presently become beside themselves, and foretell 

 future Things. Once a Year there is presented to him a 

 Cow, which hath Marks as he hath, but differing from his ; 

 and it is said that always upon what Day this Cow is found, 

 on the same it dieth. At Memphis, there is a Place in the 

 Nile which, from its Figure, the Inhabitants name Phiala; 

 and there every Year the Egyptians drown a silver and 

 gold Cup on the Days in which they celebrate the Nativity 

 of Apis. These Days are seven in Number; and it is won- 

 derful, that while they last no one is hurt by Crocodiles : 

 but on the eighth Day, after the sixth Hour of the Day, they 

 return to their former Ferocity. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 

 The Nature of Flocks of Sheep, 1 and their breeding. 



GREAT is the Advantage from the Flock, both as regards 

 Sacrifices to pacify the Gods, and the use of their Fleece : 



1 Ovis arics. LINN. The Sheep. Wern. Club. 



