498 flint's natuual histoby. [BookS. 



A-ieteiy" which they gained over the Laoedsemonians ; such, 

 in fact, being the interpretation that was put upon it by way 

 of prognostic, as this bird, when conquered, is never known to 

 crow. 



CHAP. 26, ^HOW COCKS ABE CASTRATED. A COCK THAT ONOB 



SPOKE. 



When CMtrated, cooks cease to crow. This operation is 

 performed two different ways. Either the loins of the animal 

 are seared with a red-hot iron, or else the lower part of the 

 legs ; after which, the wound is covered up with potter's clay : 

 this way they are fettened much more easily. At Pergamus,* 

 there is every year a public show of fights of game-cocks, just 

 as in other places we have those of gladiators. 



We find it stated in the Roman Annals, that in the'^ consul- 

 ship of M. Lepidus and Q. Catulus a dungihiU cock spoke, at 

 the farm-house of Galerius ; the only occasion, in fact, that I 

 know of. 



CHAP. 26. (22.) THE GOOSE. 



The goose also keeps a vigilant guard ; a fact which is well 

 attested by the defence of the Capitol, at a moment when, by 

 the silence of the dogs, the commonwealth had been betrayed -.^ 

 for which reason it is that the Censors always, the first thing 

 of all, attend to the farming-out of the feeding of the sacred 

 geese. What is still more, too, there is a love-story about this 

 animal. At ^gium one is said to have cohceived a passion for 

 a beautiful boy, a native of Olenos,*^ and another for Glauce, 

 a damsel who was lute-player to Bang Ptolemy ; for whom at 

 the same time a ram is said also to have conceived a passion. 

 One might almost be tempted to think that these creatures 

 have an appreciation of wisdom :** for it is said, that one of 



" Mentioned by Cicero, De Divin, B. i. 



^ The same too at Athens, in one of the theatres, in remembrance, 

 JEIian says, of the TOtory gained by Themistocles over the Persians. 



81 A.U.C. 676, 



^ When the Capitol was besieged by the Gauls. 



" Near Patrae, in Achaia. .ffilian gives his name as Amnliilochus. 



^ A singular quality in a goose. JSlian says, that Lacy^es was a peri- 

 patetic philosopher, and that he honoured the goose with splendid obsequies, 

 when it died. 



