officer among the ancient Romans, originally appointed to foretell future events by the chattering, flight, and feeding of birds; though afterwards they divined also by prodigies, lightning, &c. There was a college or community of these functionaries, consisting originally of three members. Afterwards the number was increased to nine, four of whom were patricians and five plebeians. This number was augmented by Sulla to fifteen, and Julius Caesar added another. They bore an angular staff or wand, as the ensign of their authority; and their dignity was so much respected that they were never deprived of office, even though convicted of the most enormous crimes.

Augustry, in its proper sense, the art of foretelling future events by observations on birds; though it is used by some writers in a more general signification, as comprising all the different kinds of divination.