§ XI. Singulorum autem hominum multis modis res fiunt: quarundum enim, rerum dominium nancisimur jure naturali, quod, sicut diximus, appellatur jus gentium; quarundum verò jure civili. Commodiùs est itaque à vetustiore jure incipere. Palàm est autem, vetustius esse jus naturale, quod cum ipso genere humano rerum natura prodidit. Civilia autem jura tunc esse cœperunt, cum et civitates condi, et magistratus creari et leges scribi, cœperunt.

§ 11. There are various means, by which things become private property. Of some we obtain dominion by the law of nature, which (as we have already observed) is also called the law of nations; of others by the civil law. But it will be most convenient to begin from the more ancient law; that law, which nature established at the birth of mankind; for civil laws could then only begin to exist, when cities began to be built, magistracies to be created, and laws to be written.

XII. Feræ igitur bestiæ, et volucres, et pisces, et omnia animalia, quæ mari, cœlo, et terrâ nascuntur, simul atque ab aliquo capta fuerint, jure gentium statim illius esse in

§ 12. Wild beasts, birds, fish, and all animals, bred either in the sea, the air, or upon the earth, so soon as they are taken, become by the law of nations, the property of the

cipiunt: quod enim ante nullius est, id naturali ratione occupanti conceditur: nec interest, feras bestias et volucres utrùm in suo fundo quis capiat, an in alleno. Planè, qui alienum fundum ingreditur venandi ut aucupandi gratiâ, potest à domino, si is præviderit, prohiberi, ne ingrediatur. Quicquid autem eorum ceperis, eousque tuum esse intelligitur, donec tuâ custodiâ coercetur; cum verò tuam evaserit custodiam, et in libertatem naturalem sese receperit, tuum esse desimit, et rursus occupantis fit. Naturalem autem libertatem recipere intelligitur, cum vel oculos tuos effugerit, vel ita sit in conspectu tuo, ut difficilis sit ejus persecutio.

captor: for natural reason gives to the first occupant, that which had no previous owner: and it is not material, whether a man take wild beasts or birds upon his own, or upon the ground of another: although whoever hath entered into the ground of another for the sake of hunting or fowling, might have been prohibited by the proprietor, if he had foreseen the intent. Whatever of this kind you take, is regarded as your property while it remains under your coercion; but when it hath escaped your custody, and recovered its natural liberty, it ceases to be yours and becomes the property of the first who seizes it. It is understood to have recovered its natural liberty, if it hath escaped your sight; or although not out of sight, yet if it cannot be pursued and retaken without great difficulty.

XIII. Illud quæsitum est, an si fera bestia ita vulnerata sit, ut capi possit, statim tua esse intelligatur. Et quibusdam placuit, statim esse tuam, et eousque tuam videri, donec eam persequaris: quod si desieris persequi, desimere tuam esse; et rursus fieri occupantis: alii verò putaverunt, non aliter tuam esse, quam si eam ceperis. Sed posteriorem sententiam nos confirmamus. quod multa accidere soleant, ut eam non capias.

13. It hath been questioned, whether a wild beast belongs to him, by whom it hath been so wounded, that it may been taken. And, in the opinion of some, it doth so, as long as he pursues it; but, if he quits the pursuit, it ceases to be his, and again becomes the right of the first occupant. Others have thought, that property in a wild beast must attach to the actual taking it. We confirm this latter opinion; because many accidents happen, which prevent the capture.

§ XIV. Apium quoque fera natura est: itaque apes, quæ in arbore tuâ consederint, antequam à te alveo includantur, non magis tuæ intelliguntur esse, quam volucres, quæ in arbore tuâ nidum fecerint: ideòque, si alius eas incluserit, is earum dominus erit. Favos quoque, si quos effecerint, eximere quilibet potest. Planè integrâ re, si prævideris ingredientem fundum tuum, poteris eum jure prohibere, ne ingrediatur. Examen quoque, quod ex alveo tuo evolaverit, eousque intelligitur esse tuum, donec in conspectu tuo est, nec difficilis persecutio ejus est; alioquin, occupantis fit.

$ 14. Bees also are wild by nature: therefore, although they swarm upon your tree, they are not reputed, until they are hived by you, to be more your property, than the birds, which have nests there: so, if any other person inclose them in a hive, he becomes their proprietor. Their honeycombs also, if any, become the property of him who takes them: but clearly, if you observe any person entering into your ground, the object untouched, you may justly hinder him. A swarm, which hath flown from your hive, is still reputed to continue yours, as long as it is in sight, and may easily be pursued; but, in any other case, it will become the property of the occupant.

§ XV. Pavonum quoque et columbarum fera natura est; nec ad rem pertinet, quod ex consuetudine evolare et revolare solent; nam et apes idem faciunt, quarum constat feram esse naturam. Cervos quoque quidem ita mansuetos habent, ut in silvam ire et redire soleant, quorum et ipsorum feram esse naturam nemo negat. In iis autem animalibus, quæ ex consuetudine abire et redire solent, talis regula comprobata est; ut eousque tua esse intelligantur, donec animum revertendi habeant: nam, si revertendi animum habere desierint, etiam tua esse desinunt, et fiunt occupan

$ 15. Peacocks and Pigeons are also naturally wild; nor is it any objection that after every flight, it is their custom to return: for bees that are naturally wild, do so too. Some have had deer so tame, that they would go to the woods, and return at regular periods; yet no one denies, but that deer are wild by nature. But, with respect to animals, which go and return customarily, the rule is, that they are considered yours, as long as they retain an inclination to return; but, if this ceases, they cease to be yours; and will again become the property of those who take them. These

§ XXII. Insula, quæ in mari est (quod rarò accidit) occupantis fit: nullius enim esse creditur. At insula in flumine nata (quod frequenter accidit) si quidem mediam partem fluminis tenet, communis est eorum,qui ab utraque parte fluminis prope ripam prædia possident, pro modo scilicet latitudinis cujusque prædii, quæ prope ripam sit: quod si alteri proximior sit parti, eorum est tantum, qui ab eâ parte prope ripam prædia possident. Quod si qua parte divisum sit flumen, deinde infra unitum agrum alicujus in formam insulæ redegerit, ejusdem

$22. When an island rises in the sea, (which rarely happens) the property of it is in the occupant; for before occupation, it is in no one. But if an island rises in a river, (which frequently happens) and is placed exactly in the middle of it, such island shall be in common to them, who possess the lands near the banks on each side of the river, in proportion to the extent of each man's estate adjoining the banks. But, if the island is nearer to one side than the other, it belongs to them only, who possess lands next to the banks on that side, to which