PREFACE. 237 



as foon as fome impoftor was impudent enough 

 to aOTert it. Add to this, that the dilpodtion in 

 Ibme birds to imitate the human voice mull con- 

 tribute much to the confirmation of fuch a doc- 

 trine. This inftitution of auorury fecms to have 

 been much more antient than that of arufpicy -, for 

 we find many in (lances of the former in Homer, 

 but not a fingle one of tlie latter that i know of*, 

 though frequent mention is made of facrifices in 

 that author. From the whole of what i have ob- 

 lerved, i fhould be apt to think that natural au- 

 gury gave rife to rehgious augury, and this to 

 arufpicy, as the mind of man makes a very eafy 

 tranfition from a little truth to a great deal of 

 error. 



A pafifage in Ariftophancs gave me the hint for 

 what i have been faying. In the comedy of the 

 Birds he makes one of them fay thus : ' The 

 greatefl blefTings which can happen to you 

 mortals are derived from us ; firil we fhew you 

 the feafons, viz. fpring, winter, autumn. The 

 crane points out the time for fowing, when ilie 

 flies with her warning notes into iEgypt ; llie 

 bids the failer hang up his rudder and take his 

 reil, and every prudent man provide himfelf 

 with winter garments. Next the kite appear- 

 ing, proclaims another feafon, viz. when it is 

 time to fhear your fheep. After that the fwal- 

 low informs you when it is time to put on fum- 

 mer cloaths. We are to you, adds the chorus, 

 Ammon, Dodona , Apollo \ for after confult- 

 ing us you undertake every thing •, merchandize, 

 purchafes, marriages, &c. Are v/e not then to 

 you on the footing of Apollo, &c.' Now it 

 feems not improbable, that the fame tranfition 



was 



