scapulimancy

[Lat. scapula, and Gr. manteia divination.] Anthrop.: Divination by a shoulder-blade. It is especially practiced in Tartary, where it is very ancient, and whence it may have spread to other countries. The bone is put on the fire till it cracks in various directions, and then a long split lengthwise is reckoned as the "way of life," while cro cracks on the right and left stand for different kinds and degrees of good and evil fortune; or if the omen is only taken as to some special event, then lengthwise splits mean going on well, but cro splits stand for hindrance. ( Tylor .) "The principal art of this kind is divination by a shoulder-blade, technically called scapulimancy or omoplatoscopy."- Tylor : Primitive Culture , i. 112. scăp-u-lō-, pref. [ Lat.scapula (q. v.).] IMG:content-1002.png:[blocks in formation]