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Augurs
In ancient
Rome these were a special caste of magician-priests who interpreted natural
phenomena which was believed to represent messages sent from the gods. The
natural phenomena, or signs, included flights if birds, patterns in clouds
and smoke, and markings on livers of sacrificial animals. Signs appearing
on the augurs' east were considered favorable and those on the west were
unfavorable.
It is interesting to note the liver rather than the heart was considered
the body's central organ. A.G.H.
Sources:
Drury, Nevil. The Watkins Dictionary of Magic. London.
Watkins Publishing. 2005. p. 29
Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. "Divination." Harper's Encyclopedia
of Mystical and Paranormal Experience. New York. HarperCollins. 1991.
p. 151