There are basically two forms of Ooscopy, ovomancy, or Oomantia. One is divination to discover the sex of an unborn child used in ancient Rome. The woman would take an egg and keep it in her bosom, at the appropriate temperature. The sex of the child was foretold by the sex of the chick when it hatched.
The other form of Ooscopy is divination through interpretation of signs or characteristics found on eggs. One method was to break an egg into a glass of water, and then to interpret the forms which the white assumed in the water. Another form of Ooscopy comes from the custom of Easter or Eostre eggs (eggs dyed for celebration of the Vernal Equinox). The custom was religiously followed in Russia and was derived from the Greek Orthodox Church. Gilded and colored eggs were mutually exchanged between men and women, who then kissed one another. The shape, color, and patterns of an egg were examined.