367 



the Tartarian cycle, the Tiger corresponds to 

 Saggitarius, often indicated merely by an arrow. 

 In the zodiac described by Mr. Hager, we find, 

 beside the wolf, a marron dog, and Capricorn, 

 or the Antelope-fish, an arrow, which represents 

 the river Tygris. This analogy is merely acci- 

 dental ; for the name of the river has nothing in 

 common with that which the animal, the tiger, 

 bears in the East. 



When we recollect, that the zodiac which 

 contains a dog, a hare, and an ape, belongs ex- 

 clusively to Eastern Asia, and that it has pro- 

 bably passed thence into America, we are sur- 

 prised to see, that it was known at Rome in the 

 first ages of our era, the period at which the 

 planisphere of Bianchini was sculptured. The 

 astrologers, or Chaldeans, established in Greece 

 and in Italy, had no doubt communications with 

 those of Asia ; and these communications must 

 have become more frequent and extensive, in 

 proportion as astrology was more in vogue 

 among the people, and at the court of the Caesars. 

 Of eight signs, which are recognisable in the 

 planisphere of Bianchini, there is only one, the 

 Crab, which does not belong to the Tartar 

 zodiac. The hare, which is found among the 

 Thibetans and Mexicans, has the legs somewhat 

 longer, but is sufficiently characterized by its 

 place in the Scorpion. I am ignorant why Mr. 

 Bailly took the dog, or wolf, for a hog, which 



