86 History of Nature. [Booic VIII, 



for as Men are indebted to the Ox's Labour for their Food, 

 so they owe the clothing of their Bodies to the Sheep. They 

 are fertile from two Years of Age upward to nine, and some 

 until they are ten Years old. The first Lambs are smaller 

 than the others. They go with Young about the Setting of 

 Arcturus, that is, from the third Day before the Ides of May 

 to the Setting of the Eagle, on the tenth Day before the 

 Calends of August. They are with Young 150 Days. If 

 any are conceived after that Time they prove weak. Lambs 

 born after that Season they called in old Time Cordos (later 

 Lambs). Many prefer these Winter Lambs before those that 

 come in Spring ; because it is much better they should be 

 strong before the Solstice than before the shortest Days : and 

 they think that this Creature only is useful by being born in 

 the midst of Winter. It is natural for Rams to loathe young 

 Lambs, and to follow after old Ewes. Himself also is better 

 when old, and more effective for them. To make them more 

 gentle, they bore his Horn through near his Ear. If his right 

 Testicle be tied up, he getteth Ewe Lambs : if the left, Males. 

 If Ewes be by themselves when it thundereth, they cast their 

 Lambs. The Remedy is to gather them together, that by 

 Company they may have help. They say that if the North 

 Wind blow they will conceive Males ; but if the Wind be 

 South, Females. Moreover, great Regard is had in this 

 Kind to the Mouths of the Rams : for of what Colour the 

 Veins be under their Tongue, 1 of the same will the Fleece be 

 of the Lambs; and they will be of a Variety of Colours if the 

 Veins were so. Also the Change of Water arid Drink maketh 

 them to alter their Colour. There are two principal Kinds 

 of Sheep; one reared within House, and the other abroad in 

 the Field : the first is the tenderer, but the other more deli- 



1 Virgil, Georg. iii. 387, in giving directions to choose a ram, says, 



"But if dark hues his tongue and palate stain, 

 Drive him far distant from thy spotless train, 

 Lest the dim blemish that the sire denied 

 Infect the fleece, and taint the motley child." 



Wern. Club. 



