Cicero was warned of his approaching death by some ravens fluttering about him just before he was murdered by Popilius Cænas.--Macaulay, History of St. Kilda, 176.
Alexander Ross says: “Mr. Draper, a young gentleman, and my intimate friend, about four or five years ago had one or two ravens, which had been quarrelling on the chimney, fly into his chamber, and he died shortly after.”--Arcana Microcosmi.
Rhinoceros’s Horns. Cups made of this material will give warning of poison in a liquid by causing it to effervesce.
Salt spilt towards a person indicates contention, but the evil may be averted by throwing a part of the spilt salt over the left shoulder.
Prodige, subverso casu leviore salino,
Si mal venturum conjicis omen; adest.
R. Keuchen, Crepundia, 215 (1662).
Shears and Sieve (The), ordeals by fire, water, etc., single combats, the corsned or cursed morsel, the Urim and Thummim, the casting of lots, were all employed as tests of innocence or guilt in olden times, under the notion that God would direct the lot aright. (See Jonah, i. 7.)
Shoes. It was thought by the Romans a bad omen to put a shoe on the wrong foot.
Augustus, having b’ oversight,