a general term under which was comprehended all combats exhibited in the Roman circus, in imitation of the Olympic games in Greece. Most of the feasts of the Romans were accompanied with Circensian games; and the magistrates, and other officers of the republic, frequently presented the people with them, in order to procure their favour. The grand games were held five days, commencing on the 15th of September. There were six kinds of games exhibited: the first was wrestling, and fighting with swords, with lances, and with pikes; the second was racing; the third, leaping; the fourth, quoits, arrows, and cestus; all which were on foot; the fifth was horse-coursing: the sixth courses of chariots.

CIRCA, in ornithology, a species of anas, called in English the summer-teal, and all over of a dusky yellowish brown, with black feet.