If, now, we turn to birth-omens in the case of infants, we find in the omen texts the same two classes, those in which all kinds of abnormalities and malformations are registered, and such in which the fancied resemblance of the new-born infant to some animal, or of some features of an infant to those of an animal is introduced as a factor. The principles underlying the interpretation, so far as they can be recognized, are naturally the same as in the case of birth-omens for the young of domesticated animals. A few illustrations will make this clear.
A text[89] dealing with twins, and passing on to multiple births up to eight, reads in part as follows:
If a woman gives birth to two boys, famine will prevail in the land, the interior of the country will witness misfortune, and misfortune will enter the house of their father[90].
If a woman gives birth to two boys with one body—no union between man and wife, [that house will be reduced][91].
If a woman gives birth to two boys of normal appearance, that house[92] ...
If a woman gives birth to a boy and a girl, ill luck will enter the land, the land will be diminished.
If a woman gives birth to twins united at the spine, with the faces [back to back ?], the gods will forsake the country, the king and his son will abandon the city.
If a woman gives birth to twins without noses and feet, the land [will be diminished][93].
If a woman gives birth to twins in an abnormal condition, the land will perish, the house of the man will be destroyed.
If a woman gives birth to twins united at the sides[94], the land ruled by one will be controlled by two.