it is a surmise almost too trifling to be
discussed. I have shewn that the Cunocephali were a sacred college, whose
members were persons of great learning: and their society seems to have
been a very antient institution. They were particularly addicted to
astronomical observations; and by contemplating the heavens, styled Ouran,
they learned to distinguish the seasons, and to divide the day into parts.
But the term Ouran the Greeks by a strange misconception changed to [Greek:
ourein]; of which mistake they have afforded other instances: and from this
abuse of terms the silly figment took its rise.

The Cunocephali are not to be found in Egypt only, but in India likewise;
and in other parts of the world. Herodotus [65]mentions a nation of this
name in Libya: and speaks of them as a race of men with the heads of dogs.
Hard by in the neighbourhood of this people he places the [Greek:
Akephaloi], men with no heads at all: to whom, out of humanity, and to
obviate some very natural distresses, he gives eyes in the breast. But he
seems to have forgot mouth and ears, and makes no mention of a nose: he
only says, [66][Greek: Akephaloi, hoi en stethesin ophthalmous echontes.]
Both these and the Cunocephali were denominated from their place of
residence, and from their worship: the one from Cahen-Caph-El, the other
from Ac-Caph-El: each of which appellations is of the same purport, the
right noble, or sacred [67]rock of the Sun.

Similar to the history of the Cunocephali, and Acephali, is that of the
Cunodontes. They are a people mentioned by Solinus and Isidorus, and by
them are supposed to have had the teeth of dogs. Yet they were probably
denominated, like those above, from the object of their worship, the Deity
Chan-Adon; which the Greeks expressed [Greek: Kunodon], and styled his
votaries [68]Cunodontes.

The Greeks pretended, that they had the use of the sphere, and were
acquainted with the zodiac, and its asterisms very early. But it is plain
from their mistakes, that they received the knowledge of these things very
late; at a time when the terms were obsolete, and the true purport of them
not to be obtained. They borrowed all the schemes under which the stars are
comprehended from the Egyptians: who had formed them of old, and named them
from circumstances in their own religion and mythology. They had
particularly conferred the titles of their Deities upon those stars, which
appeared the brightest in their hemisphere. O