Note 216 — ARRIAN ON COURSING.

Φυλάττειν δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ ὀχείας.

Lucret. L. v. vs. 1016.

Virgil. Georg. iii. 209.

Columella, who admits the dog and bitch to copulate much earlier than Arrian, is still aware of the mischievous consequences of the practice; De Re Rust. L. vii. c. xii.“si teneris conceditur,” says he, “carpit et corpus et vires, animosque degenerat.”

Vanierii Præd. Rust. L. iv.

As to the exact period at which the εὐνῆς ἔργα of Oppian (Hal. i. 532.) should commence, and their probable duration, without risk of breeding from animals too far advanced in years, there is some difference of opinion. According to Pollux,Pollux. L. v. c. vii. ὥρα ἀρίστη κυνῶν πρὸς πλήρωσίν τε καὶ γένεσιν, τῷ μὲν ἄῤῥενι τετάρτου ἔτους ἀρξαμένου, τελευταῖον τὸ ὄγδοον· ἡ δὲ θήλεια τριετὶς, μέχρι ἑξαετίδος συνδυαζέσθω.

Columella De Re Rust. L. vii. c. xii.

“Mares juveniliter usque in annos decem progenerant: post id tempus ineundis fœminis non videntur habiles, quoniam seniorum pigra soboles existit. Fœminæ concipiunt usque in annos novem, nec sunt utiles post decimum,” according to Columella: while PlinyPlin. Hist. Nat. L. viii. c. 40. admits both dog and bitch at a year old—“canum generibus annui partus, justa ad pariendum annua ætas.”

Conrad Gesner cites an ancient, nameless authority, to the following effect: Hist. Quadrup. L. i. De Cane.“Mares quarto anno gignere incipiant, (operâ scilicet hominum admittentium tunc primùm robustioris generandæ sobolis gratiâ,) fœminæ tertio usque in nonum.”

If a courser follow Virgil’s rule as to milch kine, in limiting the age of his brood bitch for the purposes alluded to, he will find it perfectly applicable:

Georg. iii. 60.

After the fourth year, no greyhound can be depended on for fair running, and therefore may be well spared, to keep up the kennel stock, when no longer useful in the field:

Fracastorii Alcon.