Muscarium, R. (musca, a fly). (1) A fly-flap. Hence (2) The tail of a horse. (3) A case in which papers were shut up in order to preserve them from fly-stains.
Muses, the personifications of the liberal arts, are represented conventionally as follows:—
Calliope. The Muse of epic poetry; a tablet and stylus, sometimes a roll.
Cleio. The Muse of history; seated in an arm-chair with an open roll of paper, sometimes with a sun-dial.
Euterpe. The Muse of lyric poetry; with a double flute.
Melpomene. The Muse of tragedy; with a tragic mask, the club of Hercules, and sword; crowned with the vine-leaves of Bacchus, and shod in the cothurnus; often heroically posed with one foot on a fragment of rock.
Terpsichore. The Muse of choral dance and religious song; with lyra and plectrum. As the Muse of religious poetry, her expression is dignified and earnest.
Erato. The Muse of erotic poetry and soft Lydian music; sometimes has the lyre, sometimes is represented dancing, always gentle and feminine in expression.
Polyhymnia. The Muse of the sublime hymn and divine tradition; usually appears without any attribute, in an attitude of meditation; sometimes the inscription ΜΥΘΟΥΣ (of the myth).
Urania. The Muse of astronomy; points with a staff to a celestial globe. (Lachesis, one of the Parcæ, has the same attributes.)