308 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



if a celestial sphere were constructed with the equator 

 in a horizontal position, the Dragon would be at the 

 summit, Hydra would be extended horizontally along 

 the equator but with his head and neck reared above 

 that circle and Argo, Cetus, Capricornus, Piscis 

 Australis, and Pisces save one-half of the northern- 

 most would lie below the equator. It may also be 

 mentioned that all the bird-constellations were then, 

 as now, clustered together not far from the equator 

 Cygnus (the farthest from the equator) being ten 

 degrees or so nearer to that circle than at present. 



Now let us turn to the two * shields,' and see whether 

 there is anything to connect them with zodiac-temples, 

 or to remind us of the relations exhibited above. To 

 commence with the * Shield of Achilles,' the opening 

 lines inform us that the shield showed 



The starry lights that heav'n's high convex crown'd, 

 The Pleiads, Hyads, with the northern team, 

 And great Orion's more refulgent beam. 



And here, in Achilles' shield, the list of constellations 

 closes ; but it is remarkable that in the ' Shield of 

 Hercules,' while the above lines are wanting, we find 

 lines which clearly point to other constellations. Re- 

 membering what has just been stated about Draco, 

 it seems at the least a singular coincidence that we 

 should find the centre or boss of the shield occupied 

 by a dragon : 



The scaly horror of a dragon, coil'd 

 Full in the central field, unspeakable, 



