BOOK VI. xxxvii. 9-1 1 



badly-bred, ordinary donkey is brought to seek her 

 compliance; he should not, however, be allowed to 

 cover her, but if the mare is inclined to submit to his 

 desires, the more ignoble donkey is promptly driven 

 away and the mare is covered by the valuable stallion. 

 A special place is constructed for these purposes — 10 

 the countryfolk call it a " machine " "—it consists of 

 two lateral walls built into gently-rising ground, 

 having a narrow space between them, so that the 

 mare cannot struggle or turn away from the donkey 

 when he tries to mount her. There is an entrance at 

 each end, that on the lower level being provided with 

 cross-bars, to which the mare is fastened with a halter 

 and stands with her forefeet at the bottom of the 

 slope, so that, leaning forward she may the better 

 receive the insemination of the donkey and make it 

 easier for a quadruped smaller than herself to mount 

 upon her back from the higher ground. When the 

 mare has given birth to a foal of which the donkey is 

 the sire, she rears it during the following year with- 

 out being with foal again. This method is better than 

 that which some people follow, who cause her to be 

 covered again by the stallion and to be with foal, 

 although she has only just foaled. When a she-mule 11 

 is a year old, it is right to take it away from its dam 

 and put it to feed far away in the mountains or in 

 wild places, so that it may harden its hoofs and 

 presently be fit for long journeys. Now the male is 

 better than the female mule for carrying a pack-saddle, 

 whereas the latter is more nimble ; but both sexes 

 step out well on a journey and are useful for breaking 

 up the soil, unless the price of the animal is too 

 burdensome an expense for the farmer, or a soil, being 

 of heavy sod, demands the strength of oxen. 



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