In general, malformations are looked upon as unfavorable, as are also excess organs or parts e. g. six fingers or six toes; and it is only occasionally that a peculiarity such as shortened arms or a protruding upper lip, receives a favorable interpretation. The variations in the interpretations themselves are not numerous, and for the most part are probably selected in an entirely arbitrary fashion, though here, too, as has been pointed out several times, association of ideas enters as a factor, as, e. g., where large ears are made to point to increased power. At the same time, it is also clear that the great majority of the malformations and abnormalities in the text that we have just discussed are such as =actually= do occur and with the help of medical works on human malformations[127], many of the omens described in this and in other texts can be identified. There can, therefore, be no doubt that the collections of the =bârû=-priests dealing with birth-omens observed in infants, likewise, rest upon actual observations, though the field was extended by passing on from actual to purely fanciful and impossible abnormalities. The extent to which this attempt to provide for all kinds of contingencies was carried in the collections is illustrated by a portion of the first tablet of a series[128] dealing with human birth-omens. This section treating in part of the birth of shapeless abortions reads as follows: If a woman gives birth to =pudenda=[129], the royal dynasty will be changed. If a woman gives birth to a head[130], the land will encounter distress. If a woman gives birth to a form of some kind[131], king against king,--his rival, will prevail. If a woman gives birth to a foetus[132], the land will encounter distress. If a woman gives birth to a foetus in which there is a second, the rule of the king and of his sons will come to an end ... the power of the land [will dwindle]. If a woman gives birth to a mass of clay[133], the king's land will oppose him and cause terror. If a woman is pregnant with a mass of clay and gives birth to a mass of clay, misfortune will come, the mother will close off her gate against the daughter, there will be no protection, the man[134] will go to ruin, the produce of the field will not prosper. If a woman gives birth to a male still-birth, Nergal[135] will destroy, the man[136] will die before his time. If a woman gives birth to a weak boy, distress, destruction of the house[137]. If a woman gives birth to a weak girl, that house will be destroyed by fire. If a woman gives birth to a lame boy, distress, that house [will be destroyed]. If a woman gives birth to a lame girl, =ditto=. If a woman gives birth to a cripple, that house will be plundered. If a woman gives birth to a crippled girl, that house [will be destroyed ?].