100 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



naturally disposed to substitute a relation of identity for a sim- 

 ple relation of analogy. On this subject M. de Gubernatis re- 

 lates, in liis " Zoologie mythologique," a personal recollection of 

 the most significant character. When he was four years old, his 

 brother having called his attention to a curious-looking group 

 of clouds by saying, " See that wolf chasing the sheep ! " he was 

 so fully convinced that the cloud was really a hungry wolf run- 

 ning over the mountains, that he ran into the house, for fear that 

 the wolf, not finding sheep, would take him. 



Dawn and twilight are only rarely made divinities among 

 untutored peoples. But they are personified in a curious Es- 

 thonian myth among the Finns. It is related in this story that 

 the sun is a torch lit up every morning by Koi, the dawn, and 

 put out every evening by CEmmerik, the twilight. Their father, 

 Uhlco, the sky, desiring to unite them, they consented to come 

 together for a few days every year at the time of the summer 

 solstice, at which time there is in Finland no night between the 

 twilight and the dawn. On these days, the legend continues, 

 CEmmerik passed the torch directly to his aflBanced, and she 

 blew it alive with her breath before it had time to go out. 



While both the twilight and the dawn were deified among 

 the Aryans, the more special importance was given to Aurora, 

 the dawn. She it was among the Greeks who daily with her 

 rosy fingers opened the eastern gates, and brought back the 

 light, which was equivalent to a new creation and the dispersion 

 of the demons of night. In the Greek mythology, Aurora pre- 

 cedes the chariot of the sun ; and on an Apuleian cup the dec- 

 orator has depicted an ingenious allegory, showing Selene (the 

 moon) mounted upon a chariot, and driving away, with her face 

 veiled ; Aurora preceding the solar team as it courses through 

 the air ; while around the chariot infants, representing the stars, 

 are disappearing in the depths of the sky. This representation 

 is very like a description that may be found in the Vedas, where 

 it is sung: "The stars fly like thieves, in company with the 

 night, before the radiance of the dawn, which, like a herald, pre- 

 cedes the course of the sun.'' " Hail, ruddy Ushas," says another 

 hymn, " golden goddess, borne on thy bright chariot ! Thou ad- 

 vancest like a solitary virgin, discovering to our admiring eyes 

 all thy hidden graces, or like a spouse unveiling to her lord 

 beauties which appear to him every morning more fresh and 

 brilliant ! Although thou countest years upon years, thou art 

 always young. Thou art the breath and the life of all that lives 

 and breathes, wakening every day myriads of prostrate sleepers, 

 causing birds to fly out of their nests, and guiding the busy steps 

 of mortals in the occupations which they pursue in the search 

 for riches, pleasure, or fame." The Vedic Uslias, like the Eos 



