of the earth as to be turned up in small maffes a+ mong the earth of ant-hills; and defcribes it to have been of a fquare figure, and of the colour, and brightnefs of gold. The defcription plainly points out a well-known foful, called, by Dr Hill, pericubium: this is common in the mines of moft parts of the world; but neither this nor any other ftone was ever supposed, in our times, to have the power of attracting gold.

AMPHITAPAA, in antiquity, a kind of car pets, or clothing, having a foft warm nap on each fide.

quence to move with either end foremost. That the amphibena, that is, a fmaller kind of ferpent, which moveth forward and backward, hath two heads, or one at either extreme, was affirmed by Nicander, and others. Brown's Vulgar Errours. AMPHISBÆNA, (from, both, and fans, to go,] in zoology, a genus of ferpents belonging to the order of amphibia ferpentes, fo called becaufe it moves with either end foremoft, which occalioned the notion of its having two heads. The head is fmall, fmooth, and blunt: the noftrils are very finall; the eyes are minute and blackith; and the muth is furnished with a great number of small teeth. The body is cylindrical, about a foot long and divided into about 200 annular convex feg. ments like thofe of a worm; and it has about 40 Longitudinal freaks, of which 12 on each fide are in the form of fmill croes like the Roman X; the anus is a tranfverfe flit; and the laft ring or fegment of the belly has 8 fmall papillæ, forming a tranfverfe tine before the anus; the tail, i. e. all the space below the anus, is short, confifting of 30 angular feginents without being marked with the crots-lines, and is thick and blunt at the point. The colour of the whole animal is black, variegated with white; but the black prevails mott on the back, and the white on the belly. It has a great refemblance to a worm, living in the earth, and moving equally well with either end foremost. There are but two species, viz.

1. AMPHISBANA ALBA, which is totally white, is a native of both the Indies, and is generally found in ant hillocks. The bite of the amphibana is reckoned mortal by many authors; but, as it is not furnished with dog fangs, the ufual inftruments of conveying the poiton of ferpents, later writers efteem it not to be poisonous. They feed upon ants and earth worms, but particularly the latter. See Plate V.

2. AMPHISBÆNA FULIGINOSA, which answers exactly to the defcription of the genus, and is found in Libya and in different parts of America. * AMPHISCH. n. S. [Lat. außionin, of up and eze, a fhadow.] Thofe people dwelling in climates, wherein the fhadows, at different times of the year, fall both ways; to the north pole, when the fun is in the fouthern figns, and to the fouth pole, when he is in the northern figns. These are the people who inhabit the torrid zone.

AMPHISCII, are alfo called Afcii. See Ascu. AMPHISMELA, or from u, on both fides, AMPHISMILA, and is a knife,, an a natomical inftrument, fharp on both fides, ufed in diffections.

AMPHISSA, in ancient geography, 1. the capital of the Locri Oxolæ, 120 ftadia, or 15 miles, to the W. of Delphi; so called, because surrounded on both fides by mountains: 2. a town of Magna Græcia, at the mouth of the Sagra, on the coaft of the Farther Calabria, fituated between Locris and Caulona; now called Rocelia. AMPHISSÆI, AMPHISSII, dered the temple of Delphos. AMPHITANE, among ancient naturalifts, a fione faid to attract gold as loadftone does iron. Piny fays, it was found in that part of the Indies where the native gold lay fo near the furface

VOL. I. PART II.

the inhabitants of Amphila, (fee laft article,) who plun

* AMPHITHEATRE. n. s: [of aμqdsargov, of app and haspa.] A building in a circular or oval form; having its area encompaffed with rows of feats one above another; where fpectators might behold fpectacles, as ftage-plays, or gladiators. The theatres of the ancients were built in the form of a femicircle, only exceeding a juft femicircle by one fourth part of the diameter; and the amphitheatre is two theatres joined together; fo that the longest diameter of the amphitheatre, was to the thorteft, as one and a half to one.Within, an amphitheatre appear'd Rais'd in degrees; to fixty paces rear'd That when a man was plac'd in one degree, Height was allow'd for him above to fee. Dryde AMPHITHEATRES, in antiquity, were at first only of wood; and it was not till the reign of Auguftus, that Statilius Taurus built one, for the firft time, of tone. The loweft part was of an ovai figure, and called arena, because, for the conveniency of the combatants, it was usually ftrewed with fand; and round the arena were vaults ftyled cavea, in which were confined the wild beafts appointed for the fhews. Above the cavea was erected a large circular periftyle, of podium, adorned with columns. This was the place of the emperors, fenators, and other perfons of diftinction. The rows of benches were above the podium. Their figure was circulat: and they were entered by avenues, at the end of which were gates called vomitorea. Their theatre was but in form of a femicircle, only exceeding a just femicircle by one fourth part of the diameter; and the amphitheatre was nothing elfe but a double theatre, or two theatres joined together; so that the longest diameter of the amphitheatre was to the fhorteft as 1 to 1. There are amphitheatres ftill ftanding at Rome, at Pola, at Nifmes, &c. The amphitheatre of Vefpafian, called the Colife um, and that of Verona in Italy, are the moft celebrated now remaining of all antiquity. mains of amphitheatres are shown alfo at Arles, Bourdeaux, &c. The amphitheatre at Pola, an ancient republic of ftria, is very entire: it confifts of two orders of Tufean pillars, one over the other. The lower have pedestals, which is extraordinary; this order, having fearce ever more than bafes to fupport them. The amphitheatre of Vefpafian is computed to have been capable of holding 87,coo fpectators. That of Verona is the beft preferved: for though most of the great and beft tones of the outfide are picked out, yet the great vault, on which the rows of the feats are laid, is entire; the rows alfo (which are 44 in number) are entire. Every row is a foot and a half high, and as much in breadth; fo that a man

Re

years to ripen, by faftening the lids tight down with pitch or gypfum, and placing them either within the reach of fmoke or under ground. AMPHORUS. See AMPHORA.

fits conveniently in them; and allowing for a feat a foot and a half, the whole will hold 23,000 perfons. Pliny mentions an amphitheatre built by Curio, which turned on large iron pivots; fo that of the fame amphitheatre two feveral theatres were occafionally made, whereon different entertainments were fometimes prefented at the fame time. Mr Brydone (vol. i. 295.) mentions an amphitheatre at Syracufe, the theatre of which is fo entire, that the gradini for feats till remain; but it is a small theatre, he fays, in comparison of the others. See Plate V.

AMPHITHEATRES, in gardening, certain difpofitions of trees and thrubs on the fides of hilly places, which, if the hill or rifing be naturally of a circular figure, always have the beft effect. They are to be formed of evergreens, fuch as hollies, phillereys, lauruftines, bays, and fuch plants, obferving to plant the fhorteft growing trees in the front, and those which will be the tallest behind, fuch as pines, firs, cedars of Lebanon, &c. Amphitheatres are alfo fometimes formed of flopes on the fides of hills, covered only with turf; and, when well kept, they are a great ornainent to large gardens.

AMPHITHURA, in ecclefiaftical antiquity, the vail which divided the chancel from the rest of the church. It was fo called because it opened in the middle like folding doors.

AMPHITRITE, [xpirern, from aμp, and r, to found,] in the heathen mythology, the wife of Neptune and goddess of the fea; fometimes ufed in poetical language for the fea.

AMPHITRITE, in zoology, a small naked fea infect, of an obiong form, with only one tentaculum, refembling a thread. There are feveral fpecies of this animal, fome of which are furrowed, fo as to bear fome refemblance to a quill.

AMPHITRYON, the fon of Alcæus, [from whom Hercules was ftiled Alcides,] lefs known by his own exploits than from his wife Alcmena's adventure. See ALCMENA.

AMPHODONTA, [from au, and odour, a tooth,] in zoology, an appellation given to animals which have teeth both in the upper and under jaw.

AMPHORA, in antiquity, a liquid measure among the Greeks and Romans. The Roman amphora contained 48 fextaries, equal to about 7 gallons one pint English wine meafure; and the Grecian or Attic amphora contained one third more. It is called by Homer AMPHIPHORUS, and by contraction AMPHORUS, on account of its having two handles. Suetonius mentions one who Rood candidate for the quæftorfhip, who drank an amphora of wine at one meal with Tiberius! Amphora was alfo a day meafure ufed by

the Romans, and contained about three bufhels.

AMPHORA CAPITOLINA, the standard meafure kept in the Capitol of Rome, by which the other amphore were rectified. See laft article. AMPHORA, in Venice, is the largest meafare ufed for liquids, containing about 16 quarts.

AMPHORARIUM, VINUM, in antiquity, denotes that which is drawn or poured into amphoræ or pitchers; by way of distinction from vinun doliare, or cafk wine. The Romans had a method of keeping wine in amphoræ for many

AMPHIOTEROPLON, in civil law, a fpecies of naval infurance, whereby the infurers run the risk of the veffel both in going out and coming home. It is opposed to neteroplon, where only the voyage outwards is infured.

AMPHOTIDES, in antiquity, a kind of armour or covering for the ears, worn by the ancient pugilifts, to prevent their adverfaries from laying hold of that part. Authors have been at a lofs to explain the nature and ufe of the amphotides. Some fuppofed them a fort of helmet for covering the nofe and ears. Fabretti ascertained their real ufe from the figure of a pugilift, who had amphotides over his ears, joined by a piece coming over the forehead, and tied with ftrings under the chin.

AMPHRYSIA VATES, an epithet given by Virgil to one of the Sibyls.

AMPHRYSUS, or AMPHRYSSUS, in ancient geography, 1. A river of Phthiotis, in Theffaly, running by the foot of mount Othrys, from S. to N. into the Enipeus at Thebes of Theffaly, where Apollo is faid to have fed the herds of king Admetus. 2. Another in Phrygia, which, Pliny fays, renders women barren. 3. A town of Phocis, at the foot of mount Parnaffus, encompaffed with a double wall by the Thebans, in the war with Philip.

*AMPLE. adj. amplus, Lat.] 1. Large; wide: extended.—

4. Liberal; large; without parfimony.-If we fpeak of ftrict juftice, God could no way have been bound to require man's labours in fo large and ample manner as human felicity doth import; in as much as the dignity of this exceedeth fo far the others value. Hooker. 5. Magnificent; fplendid.-To difpofe the prince the more willingly to undertake his relief, the earl made ample promifes, that, within fo many days after the fiege fhould be raifed, he would advance his highnefs levies with two thousand men. Clarendon. 6. Diffufive not contracted; as, an ample narrative, that, is not an epitome.

*AMPLENESS. n. f. [from ample.] The quality of being ample; largenefs; fplendour.-Impoffible it is for a person of any condition to produce any thing in proportion either to the amplenefs of the body you reprefent, or of the places you bear. South.

AMPLEPUIS, a town of France, in the de

partment