40 REPORT — 1844. 



5°. That the errors of Bayer or Flamsteed being thus reclined, and the 

 figures of the constellations introduced by Hevelius being properly drawn (if 

 requisite) within the intermediate spaces, the boundaries of the constellations, 

 thus decided on, be carefully drawn and laid down agreeably to some syste- 

 matic plan, M'hich may thus serve as the perpetual limits of the constellations : 

 and that no distortion of the outlines or boundaries of any of these constella- 

 tions, in the northern hemisphere, be permitted in consequence of the mistakes 

 of any subsequent astronomers in arranging their stars under improper divi- 

 sions of the heavens. 



6°. That as all Flamsteed's stars are designated by the numerical order in 

 which they stand in the constellation, and as these numbers are in most cases 

 well known and recognised, it is desirable to preserve his stars within the 

 boundaries of their respective constellations, wherever it can be conveniently 

 done. But, in the case of synonymous stars (amounting to 22) this is evidently 

 impossible ; and there are also several other cases, which have been already 

 alluded to (amounting to 66, of which 19 belong to Crater), where it is im- 

 practicable, consistently with the rules here proposed*. These anomalous 

 stars must be corrected in the catalogue, and there located in their proper 

 constellations ; which will thus in future be a guide to the globe-makers. 



7°. That as all the stars in the catalogue of Piazzi are designated and 

 always quoted by their number in the Junir of right ascension, and those of 

 Taylor and others, by their ordinal number, it is not so requisite to pay spe- 

 cial attention to inscribing such stars within the boundaries of the constella- 

 tions to which they are assumed to belong ; and which will frequently be 

 found to be discordant: still, that if any of these stars lie near to the boun- 

 daries so assumed, a slight detour be allowed in the drawing. 



Such is the plan which I have pursued in the present arrangement of the 

 stars in the northern constellations ; and which I propose also to adopt in the 

 classification of the stars deduced from the observations recorded in the ' His- 

 toire Celeste.' I shall now proceed to state the several alterations that have 

 been proposed by Sir John Herschel for amending the boundaries and no- 

 menclature of the southern constellations. But, as I cannot add to the clear- 

 ness and precision with which he has treated this subject, I shall here subjoin 

 his statement in his own words. 



" The idea, originally proposed of entirely re-modelling the southern con- 

 stellations f, has (after very mature consideration and much discussion, and 

 after consulting the opinions of some of the most eminent continental astro- 

 nomers, which have been found very adverse to the idea of so decided a 

 change) been laid aside ; at least in so far as regards the present undertaking. 

 It is conceived however that if the nomenclature of the constellations, gene- 

 rally, be ever destined to undergo a systematic change at all (and many rea- 



* The following is a statement of the G6 stars in Flamsteed's catalogue, which I have as- 

 sumed to be incorrectly arranged : viz. 13 Arg'is belongs to Canis Minor ; 33, 34, 35 Camelo- 

 pardi belong to Auriga; 50 Camclopardi belongs to Lynx; 85, S7 Cetihe\ong to Aries; 1, 2, 

 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20, •22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29 Cralerh belong to Hydra; 3 Cygni 

 belongs to Vulpecula ; SO Draconis belongs to Cepheus ; 3 Herculis belongs to Serpens ; 66 

 Hercules belongs to Ophiuchus ; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ieonii jl/jnorii belong to Lynx ; 6, 41, 49 Leonis 

 Minoris belong to Leo ; 25 Leonis Minoris belongs to Ursa Major ; 37, 39, 44 Lyncis belong 

 to Ursa Major; 30, 31 Monocerotis belong to Hydra; 32, 33, 34 OpMuchi he\oxig to Hercules ; 

 47 Ophiuchi belongs to Serpens ; 23 Piscium belongs to Pegasus ; 1 Sagitta belongs to Vulpe- 

 cula; 2 Sagittaril belongs to Ophiuchus; 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Scorpii belong to Ophiu- 

 chus; 48 iSe)7)e«i(s belongs to Hercules; 10, 11 Sextajitis belong to Leo; 16 Trianguli belongs 

 to Aries ; 10, 19 Ursa Majoris belong to Lynx ; 46 Ursa Majoris belongs to Leo Minor ; 101 

 Virginis belongs to Bootes. 



t By Sir John Herschel himself, as stated in his Paper inserted in vol. xii. of the Memoirs 

 of the Roy. Ast. Society, — F. B. 



