***For the names of the stars, corresponding to the above lettering, refer to the list at p. 10.

Vincent Brooks Day & Sou

Western Horizon

MARCH.

HALF-HOUR WITH THE STARS IN MARCH.

MAP III.

13

THE GREAT BEAR is now approaching the point overhead, but is easily recognised towards the north-east. The pointers, as shown, indicate the pole-star towards the left, and considerably below them.

The Guardians of the Pole now lie on the right of and somewhat below the pole-star, Vega shines just above the horizon, immediately below them. Between lies the Dragon's head; and we see the body and tail of the Dragon curving round between the head and the Guardians of the Pole.

The upper part of Cygnus is now all that can be seen of this constellation, almost due north on the horizon. Further to the left, and well raised above the horizon, we see Cassiopeia. Andromeda is now approaching the horizon, her head almost touching it towards the north-west. Next on the left is Aries, and above Aries is Perseus.

Above Perseus is Auriga, Capella being almost due west. Cetus has nearly set, only its head being visible above the horizon.

Above Eridanus (now nearly set) is Taurus, very favourably situated for observation. The Pleiades lie due west, and Aldeboran-the brilliant red star-to their left.

Orion is towards the south-west, bending forwards towards the west. Above him, but somewhat to the left, are the Twins, Castor still uppermost.

Below the Twins are the two dogs, Canis Major towards the south-south-west, and low down. Alfard (The Solitary One), or Cor Hydræ, as he is called in the map, lies midway between the south and the south-east, and is well raised above the horizon. It is interesting to notice how blank all this part of the heavens appears-so far, at least, as conspicuous stars are concerned.

Towards the south-east is Alkes, the chief star in the Cup; and we notice the Crow just rising into view towards the left.

Above, we recognise Leo, the Sickle being now a conspicuous object.

Virgo has risen partially into view above the eastern horizon. The cup-shaped group formed by the five stars shown in the map was called by the Arabian observers, for reasons not yet explained, "The Retreat of the Howling Dog.'

Boötes has now risen entirely above the horizon, though as yet in a recumbent position. Arcturus is a conspicuous object on the right of this constellation.

Below the head and shoulders of Boötes notice the Crown, one star only of which (Alphecca) is shown in the map. Doubtless this group of stars originally formed the right arm of Boötes. The constellation recently attracted much notice as the region in which a new star (or rather, an irregular variable) made its appearance a year or two ago.

Hercules is gradually rising into view towards the north-east.

HALF-HOUR WITH THE STARS IN APRIL.

MAP IV.

THE GREAT BEAR is now easily found, being nearly overhead. The pole lies below the pointers. The Guardians of the Pole are now somewhat higher than the pole towards the right. Below the pole-star is Cepheus, and due west of him is Cassiopeia, the W gradually approaching its natural position. Andromeda's feet are to be seen above the south-western horizon, and towards the left, Aries is setting.

Above Aries is Perseus, now well situated for observation. The brilliancy of the Milky Way in this neighbourhood is worth noticing.

Due west is the Bull, above which lies Auriga.

Orion is now approaching the horizon, and is prone towards his 'western grave;' above him hang the starry Gemini.'

Towards the left are the two Dogs.. The Greater Dog is now setting.

Alfard (Cor Hydra), is somewhat to the west of south. Above is the Sickle in Leo, due south, and with its handle vertical.

The length of Hydra is now nearly raised above the horizon. We may notice in passing that the Sea Serpent originally extended along the equator, and we believe that the epoch at which the ancient constellations were formed may be more correctly deduced from this correspondence than from any other, since few ideas of antiquity are more commonly recognised than that of the equatorial (and also oceanic) Serpent. It is strange, by the way, that sea monsters form so large a part of the mythology of the ancients, and a fanciful mind might incline to the notion that the ancients preserved in their celestial globes the records of sea-creatures once well known but now extinct. The reader if he have a taste for fanciful speculations may here refer to Gosse's chapter on the "Great Unknown,' in which he argues that the Sea Serpent (despite Professor Owen's arguments to the contrary) is a true Dolichodeiros-that is, not a serpent but a paddling long-necked lizard. Certainly the Cetus and Hydra of ancient globes might not unreasonably be urged in support of this view; and the Dragon would figure as a respectable pterodactyl.

Virgo has now risen, and the brilliant Spica is a conspicuous object towards the south-east. Just above the horizon is the star ẞ of the Scales.

Due east is the Serpent just above the horizon. It must be noticed, however, that a part of this constellation lies on the further side of the as yet unrisen Ophiuchus. Serpens is the only constellation thus divided.

Above Serpens is Boötes, still nearly recumbent. Coma Berenices and Cor Caroli occupy the positions severally accorded to them in the map.

To the left of Serpens is Hercules, or Engonasin, the Kneeler, supposed by many to represent Adam kneeling on the head of the Serpent, Draco.

The Lyra has now nearly risen, in the north-east, immediately beneath the Dragon's head.