238 
ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN FIELD SPORTS. 
[Nature and Al t, December 1, 186t>. 
in before the capture is made. He Avas to go to 
the field clad in alight dress (y<-uu') reaching down 
to the knee ; the dress was not to be Avhite, nor of 
any conspicuous colour distinguishable by the prey 
at a distance ; the chlamys (y\dpuc), or scarl, he 
was to wrap round the left arm when in pursuit of 
a Avild animal. The boots were to reach half way 
up the calf of the leg, and were to be fastened by 
strong bands ; and he was to carry a short, thick 
staff in his right hand. In addition to the imple- 
ments of chase already mentioned, there was the 
feathered line, linea pinnata , called, from the terror 
it tvas supposed to instil into the prey, formido, or 
metua. To this Seneca refers — 
“ Nec est mirum, cum maximos ferarum greges linea 
pennis distincta contineat et in insidias agat : ab ipso 
effectu dicta formido.” — (Be Ira., ii. xii.) 
The formido Avas principally used in the chase of 
deer, but it was also employed in that of other 
animals. Feathers of different birds and of various 
hues Avere tied to long ropes, and placed in open 
spots in avoocIs, in order that the game may be 
scared away from thence into the nets. To this 
there are many allusions in ancient authors. 
The following lines from Gratian shoAV that the 
formido Avas considered a very effectual instrument 
in aiding the capture of Avild animals : — 
“ Sunt quibus immundo decerptae vulture plum® 
Instrumentum operis fuit et non parva facultas. 
Tantum inter nivei jungantur vellera cygni : 
Et satis armorum est. Hase clara luce coruscant 
Terribiles species : ab vulture dirus avaro 
Turbat odor silvas, meliusque alterna valet res.”- — 
Cyneg. 75 — 80. 
which may be thus translated : — 
“ Tbere are those who use with great success as an in- 
strument of the chase, feathers plucked from the filthy 
vulture. Only let these be mixed with the downy feathers 
of the white swan, and other weapons will be unnecessary. 
Let this terrifying object glitter in a bright light, Avhile 
the dire smell from the feathers of the greedy vulture taints 
the woods. The feathers are more successful if placed 
alternately.” 
Nemesian speaks of the utility of the feathered 
line in the following words : — • 
“ Linea quin etiam, magnos circumdare saltus 
Qu 33 possit, volucresque metu concludere prajdas, 
Dig-erat innexas non una ex alite pinnas. 
Namque ursos magnosque suus eervosque fegaces 
Et vulpes acresque lupos, ceu fulgura cosli 
Terrificant, Unique vetant transcendere septum.” — 
Carm. Venat. 303 — 308. 
“ Let the line, too, which can surround large woods and 
terrify the swift prey, bear inwoven within it feathers from 
various birds ; for, like the thunder of heaven, they alarm 
bears and huge wild boars, swift stags, foxes, and savage 
wolves, and prevent their passing the feathered barrier.” 
It may be interesting to observe that this mode 
of hunting with the feathered line was practised by 
the Sicilians about 200 years ago. 
“ When the nobles or gentry are informed which way a 
herd of deer passeth, giving notice to one another, they 
make a meeting. Every one brings with him a cross-bow, 
or a long bow and a bundle of staves. These staves have 
an iron spike at the bottom, and their head is bored with a 
cord drawn through all of them. Their length is about 
four feet. Being- thus provided, they come to the herd ; 
and there, casting themselves about into a large ring, they 
surround the deer, and then every one of them receives a 
peculiar stand, and there unbinding his fagot, ties the end 
of his cord to the other who is set in the next station ; 
then, to support it, sticks into the ground each staff about 
the distance of ten feet one from another. Then they take 
out feathers which they bring with them, dyed in crimson 
for this very purpose, and fastened upon a thrid, which they 
tie to the cord ; so that, with the least breath of wind, they 
are whirled round about. Those which keep the several 
stands withdraw, and hide themselves in the next covert. 
After this th6 chief ranger enters within the line, taking 
with him only some hounds which draw after the herd, and, 
coming near Avith their cry, rouse it. Upon which the deer 
fly till they come towards the line, where they turn off 
towards the left, and still gazing- upon the shining and 
shaking feathers, wander about it as if they were kept in 
with a wall or pole. The chief ranger pursues, and calling 
to eA 7 ery one by name, as he passeth by their stand, cries 
to them that they should shoot the first, third, or sixth, as 
he shall please ; and if any of them miss, or single out 
any other than that which was assigned by the ranger, it is 
counted a disgrace to him : by which means, as they pass 
by the several stations, the whole herd is killed by diverse 
hands.” (Wase’s Preface to his translation of Gratius.) 
Javelins (aroma) and boar-spears (irpofioXiu) 
Avere necessary weapons of tlie chase ; the former 
were generally made of ash or beech-wood, tough 
and compact, each Avith a broad, sharp bronze or 
iron head; to the centre a leathern thong was 
firmly fastened, by means of which the javelin Avas 
hurled. The ctcontion Avas usually employed in the 
capture of stags and other animals Avhich may be 
shot at a distance. The boar-spear was made of 
cornel-wood, Avith a strong, sharp iron head, into the 
holloAv portion of which the shaft was fitted. The cut- 
ting portion was called the obelisk ffjtXiaKog ) ; it had 
shai’p Avings on either side, broad at the upper part, 
and gradually becoming narrow till it disappeared 
in the point, or tongue (yXiocrrrp). At the end of 
the hollow iron part of the spear, just in front of 
the wings, were tAvo projecting teeth of strong iron 
(o 'woorree), one on each side ; the object of which 
Avas to prevent the irritated animal reaching the 
hunter by pushing its body along the spear. It 
was held in the hand, and Avas not fitted with 
leathern thongs. 
Xenophon gives many instructions about boar- 
hunting : he recommends either Indian, Cretan, 
Locrian, or Spartan dogs ; the two former were 
noted more especially for their great strength and 
courage ; the latter for their good noses. The net 
principally used in the chase of the Avild boar was 
the apKvr or purse-net. It was, of course, made of 
very strong cords, and of large meshes. The traps 
Avere similar to the deer-traps. The hunters Avere 
to go in company, in order that one might assist 
another in case of accident, in so perilous a chase. 
“ When they have come to a place likely for a boar, they 
must bring up the dogs quietly, letting one of the Spartan 
dogs loose, and keeping the other tied, and go round about 
the place with the loose dog. When this dog has found 
traces of the boar, they must continue their course along 
the track. There will be many indications of the boar to 
guide the hunters ; marks of his footsteps on soft ground ; 
pieces of the shrubs broken off in thickly wooded parts ; 
scratches of his tusks on the large trees. The dog pur- 
suing the track, will generally come to some woody spot, 
for the animal commonly lies in such places as are warm in 
winter and cool in summer. When it reaches the beast’s 
