Note 1 — OBSERVATIONS ON ANCIENT AND

The discipline of the augurs is of very ancient date, having been prohibited by Moses, in Leviticus. The cup put in Joseph’s sack, was that used by Joseph to take auguries by. In its more general signification, augury comprises all the different kinds of divination, which Varrow distinguishes into four species of augury, according to the four elements; namely, pyromancy, or augury by fire; aeromancy, or augury by the air; hydromancy, or augury by the water; and geomancy, or augury by the earth.—See Divination. The Roman augurs took their presages concerning futurity from birds, beasts, and the appearances of the heavens, &c.