Vermiculated Horns

In Chapter 50 of Far From The Madding Crowd, Hardy's phrase "vermiculated horns" refers to horns that are twisted, coiled, or marked with winding worm-like curves.

The adjective vermiculated comes from Latin vermiculus meaning little worms.  In art and natural descriptions it means having irregular winding lines, convolutions, or worm-like patterns.

When Hardy speaks of sheep or rams with vermiculated horns, he is drawing attention to the intricate special shape of their horns, which seem to curl and twist like worms or tendrils.  The word adds a vivid visual detail and reflects Hardy's habit of describing rural life with almost scientific precision.

The description is characteristic of Hardy's rich descriptive vocabulary, turning an ordinary feature of sheep into a striking visual image.

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