ill enter the ruler's land.

In this way, twenty-one omens derived from as many varieties of strange
formations in the legs of colts are enumerated. As in the case of
lambkins, so for colts, the appearance of twins is endowed with a
special significance.

If a mare gives birth to twins, male and female, and each has
only one eye, the enemy triumphs and devastates Babylonia.

If the male or female colt has a mane like a lion, the country
will be reduced.

If the male or female colt has a dog's hoof, the country will be
reduced.

If the male or female colt has a lion's claw, the country will
be enlarged.

If the male or female colt has a dog's head, the woman's[657]
life will be bad. The country will be reduced.

If the male or female colt has a lion's head, the ruler will be
strong.

If both colts, the male and female, resemble lions, the ruler
over his enemies prevails (?).

If both colts, male and female, resemble dogs, the ruler over
his enemy's country prevails (?).

If either a male or female colt is born resembling a lion, the
king will be strong.

If either a male or female colt resembles a dog, herds of cattle
will die, and there will be famine.

If a colt is born without a head, its master will be strong.

If a colt is born without eyes, the god Bel will bring about a
change of dynasty.

If a colt is born without feet, the king increases his army and
a slaughter will ensue.

If a colt is born without ears, for three years the gods will
reduce the land.

If a colt is born without a tail, the ruler will die.

In conclusion it may be observed that, apart from the unusual character
of these freaks which would suffice to attribute a special import to
them, the notions current among the Babylonians, as among so many people
of a period when creatures existed, the various parts of which were
compounded of different animals, may be regarded as an additional factor
that served to add force to the class of omens we are considering. The
monsters guarding the approaches to temples and palaces[658] were but
one form which this popular belief assumed, and when a colt was observed
to have a lion's or a dog's claw, an ocular demonstration was afforded
which at once strengthened and served to maintain a belief that at
bottom is naught but a crude and primitive form of a theory of
evolution. In a