i 4 A BEAUTIFUL CONSTELLATION. 



Such, in our belief, is the true origin a point so often and 

 laboriously discussed of the asterisms or constellations. Their 

 fanciful, mythological, or poetical embellishments, are of later 

 date. 



The census or enumeration of the stars, which we suppose 

 to have commenced during our winter nights, must at first 

 have been limited to the most characteristic groups, composed 

 of the most brilliant points. In this scientific labour the first 

 rank would necessarily be occupied by Arctos (or Ursa 



Major) and Orion. Why? 

 Because these two constella- 

 tions attract and rivet every- 

 body's gaze. 



Orion is situated on the side 

 opposite to the Great Bear. 

 It is the most beautiful con- 

 stellation in our western sky. 

 You may easily recognise it 

 by three stars, very close to- 

 gether, which are inscribed, as 

 it were, in the centre of a 



FIG. 3 . -Orion. great trapezium of four stars, 



two of which are of the first magnitude. Beneath the three 

 first stars, called the Three Kings, or Orion's Belt, is visible a 

 small stellar group of the fourth and fifth magnitude, near 

 which, with a good average glass, may be distinguished the 

 largest and most remarkable of the nebulae. 



