A M U 
73 AMP 
' tution, made fit to bear and live in the water ; 
the former, bv their constitution and form, to 
• breathe and dwell in the air. But it may be 
asked, why eels and water-snakes are capable 
• of living longer in the air than the other kinds of 
tisii ? This is answered, by considering the 
providential care of the great Creator for these 
■ ami'every one ot his creatures; for since they 
were capable of loco-motion by their form, 
which they heed not be if they were never to 
go on shore, it seemed necessary that they 
should be rendered capable of living a consi- 
derable time on shore, otherwise their loco- 
motion would be in vain, flow is this pro- 
vided for? Why, in a most convenient man- 
ner ; for this order of fishes have their bron- 
chia; well covered from the external drying 
.air: they are also furnished with a slimy 'mu- 
cus, which hinders their becoming crisp and 
dry for many hours; and their very skins al- 
ways emit a mucous liquor, which keeps them 
supple and moist for a long time ; whereas the 
bronchia; of other kinds offish are much ex- 
posed to the air, and want the slimy matter to 
keep them moist. Now, if any of these, when 
brought out of the water, were laid in a vessel 
without water, they might be preserved alive 
a considerable time, by only keeping the gills 
and surface of the skin constantly wet, even 
without any water to swim in. 
Some kinds of insects, and some birds, are 
amphibious. The term lias been applied to 
men who have the faculty of living long under 
water. The divers employed in the pearl fish- 
eries possess this power in an eminent degree. 
AMPHIBOLOGY, in grammar and rhe- 
. toric, a term used to denote a phrase suscep- 
tible of two different interpretations. 
AMHlBRACHYS, in antient poety, the 
name of a foot consisting of three syllables, 
whereof that in the middle is long, and the 
other two short. 
AMPHLCTYON-1, in Grecian antiquity, 
an assembly compos ;d of deputies from the 
different states of Greece, and resembling, in 
some measure, the diet of the German empire. 
The amphictyons met regularly at Delphi, 
twice a year, viz. in spring and autumn, and 
decided all difterenas between any of the Gre- 
cian states, their determinations being held 
sacred and inviolable. 
AMPHIMACER, in antient poetry, afoot 
consisting of three syllables, whereof 'the first 
and last are long, and that in the middle short. 
AM PRIM ASC A LOS, a tunic, or coat, 
worn by the Greeks, with two short sleeves, so 
as to cover part of the arm to the elbow. The 
coats of freemen were amphimascalos , those 
of slaves had only one. 
AMPHIBOLES, the principal magistrates 
of S yracuse, in Sicily, called archons at 
Athens. 
AMPHIPPII, in Grecian antiquity, sol- 
diers, who in war used two horses without 
saddles, ami were dextrous enough to leap 
from one to the oilier. 
AM PHIPRO ILL, in the naval affairs of 
the aritients, vessels with a prow at each end. 
They were used chiefly in rapid rivers and nar- 
row channels, where it was not easy to tack 
about. 
AMPHISBiENA, in zoology, a genus of 
serpent so called, because it moves with either 
end forward. The body of the amphisbauia 
has a number of circular annuli, surrounding 
_t from the head to the extremity of the tail ; 
io that it seems composed of a number of nar- 
row and somewhat rounded rings applied close . 
A M V 
to one another, and having deep furrows be- 
tween them. 
Only two species of this genus have hitherto 
been discovered, the white and the black. 
\ he white is from 15 to 18 inches long ; it is 
found preying on m eets, worms, &c. It is 
harmless, blit on handling it, the Tin becomes 
affected with a slight itching, accompanied 
with small pustules. The other is rarely so 
large, and is equally harmless. The skin of 
the amphisba-na is strong and tenacious, and 
of a smooth glossy surface ; and it is probable 
that they are .enabled with facility to perforate 
the ground in the manner of earth worms, in 
order to obtain occasional supplies of food. 
See Nat. Hist. fig. 14*. 
AM PH ISC 1 1, among geographers, a name 
applied to the people Who inhabit the torrid 
zone. 
Amphiscii, as the word imports, have their 
shadows one part of the year towards the 
north, and at the other towards the south, ac- 
cording to the sun’s place, in the ecliptic. 
They are also called Ascii. 
AMPHITAPA, in antiquity, a garment 
frizzed or shagged on both sides, which was 
laid under pe sons going to sleep. 
AMPHITHEATRE, in, antiquity, a spa- 
cious edifice built either round or oval, with a 
number of rising seats, upon which the people 
used to sit and behold the combats of gladia- 
tors, of wild beasts, and other sports. 
Amphitheatres were at first only of wood, 
audit was not till the reign of Augustus, that 
Statilius Taurus built one for the first time of 
stone. The lowest part was of an oval figure, 
and called arena, because, for the conveniency 
of the combatants, it was usually strewed with 
sand; and round the arena were vaults styled 
cavecE, in which were confined the wild beasts 
appointed for the shews. Above the cavese 
was erected a large circular peristyle podium, 
adorned with columns. This was the place of 
the emperors, senators, and other persons of 
distinction.- The rows of benches were above 
the podium. Their figure was circular, and 
they were entered by avenues, at the end of 
which were gates, called vomiloria?. The 
most perfect remains we now have of antient 
amphitheatres are that of Vespasian, called the 
coliseum, that at Verona in Italy, and that at 
Nismes in Languedoc. 
AMPHORA, in antiquity, a liquid mea- 
sure in use among the Greeks and Romans. 
The Roman amphora contained forty-eight 
sextaries, and was equal to about seven gal- 
lons one pint, English wine-measure ; and the 
Grecian, or attic amphora, contained one- 
third more. 
Amphora, was a dry measure, likewise 
in use among the Romans, and contained 
three bushels. 
Amphora, among the Venetians, the lar- 
gest measure used for liquids. It contains 
four bigorzas, the bigorza being four quarts, 
the quart four sachies, and each sachie four 
leras ; but by wholesale the amphora is 14 
quarts, and the bigorza three quarts and a half. 
AM PH OR AR I U M vinum, wine that is 
drawn into pitchers, distinguished from cask 
wine. The Romans had a method of keep- 
ing wine in anaphoras for many years to ripen, 
by fastening the lids down with pitch or gyp- 
sum, and placing them either under ground, 
or in the smoke. 
AMPHO PEROPLON, a kind of naval 
insurance, where insurers run the risk both 
in the going out, and return of the vessel. - 
AMFHOTIDES, in antiquity, a kind of 
armour or covering for the ears, worn by the 
antient pugilists, to prevent their adversaries 
from laying hold of this part. 
AMPLIATION, in Roman antiquity, was 
the deferring to pass sentence in certain 
causes. '1 his the judge did, by pronouncing 
the word amplius ; or by writing the letters 
N. L. for non liquet ; thereby signifying, 
that as the cause was not clear, it would be 
necessary to bring farther evidence. 
AMPLn UDE, an arch of the horizon in- 
tercepted between the east or west point, and 
the centre of the sun, or a planet at its ris- 
ing and setting, and so is either north and 
south, or ortive and occasive. 
The sun's -amplitude, either rising or sot- 
ting, is found by the globes,- by bringing the 
sun’s place to the horizon, either on the east 
or west side, and the degrees from the east- 
point, either north or south, are the ampli- 
tude required. To- find the amplitude trigo- 
nometrically, say, - as the cosine of the lati- 
tude : radius : : sine ot the present declina- 
tion : sine of the amplitude. ’I’his problem 
is useful in navigation, to find the variations 
of the compass. 
Amplitude Magnetical, the different 
rising or setting of the sun, from the- east or 
west points of the. compass. It is found by 
observing the sun, at his rising, and setting, 
by an amplitude-compass. . 
Amplitude of the range of a projectile, 
the horizontal line, subtending the path in 
which the projectile moved. 
AMPULE A, in antiquity, a round big- 
bellied vessel, which the antients used in 
their baths, to contain oil for anointing their 
bodies. Ampulla was also a cup made of 
glass, and sometimes of leather, for drink- 
ing out of at table. 
AMPUTATION, the cutting off a limb, 
or other part of the body. See Surgery. 
AM PYX, among the ancients, a kind of 
golden chain, which served to bind the hair of 
the horses on the forehead. The term was af- 
terwards used to denote a fillet which formed 
part of their dress ; this whs frequently encir- 
cled with gold and precious stones. 
AMSDORFIANS, a sect of protestants, i 
in the 1 6th century, -who took their name 
from Amsdorf, their leader. 
They maintained, that gqod works were 
not only unprofitable, but even opposite and 
pernicious to salvation. 
AMULET, a charm or preservative against 
mischief, witchcraft, or diseases. 
Amulets were made of stone, metal, simples, 
animals, and in a word, of.everv thing wnich 
fancy or caprice suggested ; and sometimes 
they consisted of words, characters, and sen- 
tences, ranged in a particular order, and en- 
graved upon wood, &c. and worn about the 
neck, or some other part of the body. 
At other times they- were neither written 
nor engraved, but prepared with many super- 
stitious ceremonies, great regard being usual- 
ly paid to the influence of the stars. The 
Arabians have given to this species of amulet 
the name of talisman. 
All nations have been fond of amulets : the 
Jews were extremely superstitions in the use 
of them to expel diseases: and the Misna for- 
bids them, unless received from an approved 
man, who had cured at least three persons 
before, by the same means. 
Evert amongst the Christians of the early 
tunes, amulets were made of the wood of the 
