The augurs were elected for life, and, even
if capitally convicted, never lost their sacred
character. When a vacancy occurred, the
candidate was nominated by two of the elder
members of the college ; the electors were
sworn, and the new meoaber took an os^th of
secresy before his inauguration. The only
distinction among them was one of age, Uie
eldest augur being styled ^m^pier coU^iL
Among other privilegee, they enjoyed that of
wearing the purple Dra«(«»t6, or, according to
some, tks trabea. On ancient cojns they are:
represented wearibg a long r6be,which veiled
the head and reached down to the feet, thrown
back over the left shouMer. They hold in the
right hand a lifw!u$, ok curved wand, hooked at
the end like a cxosier» and sometimes have the
Mmt, or earthen waler-vc^sel by their side.
The ^hief duties of th^ augurs were to ob-
serve and report si^matural signs. They
were also the repositaries of the ceremonial
law, and had to advise on the expiation of
prodigies, and other mattecs of xehgious ob-
servance. Oth^ duties of the augurs were to
assist magistra,tes and generals in taking the
audioes, iktthejmssing of a /evcvnaia, three
were recused to be present, a number prob-
ably designed to lepresent^ the t^cee ancient
tztbes.
