I 



PATH] ASTRONOMY AS NATURE STUDY 131 



Astronomy with the Naked Eye" and "Round the Year with the 

 Stars,' ' both by Garrett P. Serviss, and also pubHshed by Harpers. 



After one has become acquainted with the constellations it will 

 be of great interest to learn something of the mythology of the 

 heavens. An excellent little book for this purpose is "The Stars 

 in Song and Legend" (Ginn & Co.) by Prof. J. G. Porter of the 

 Cincinnati Observatory. The fact that it is written by a profes- 

 sional astronomer should not deter anyone from reading it for it 

 is not -technical in any sense of the word. The most authoritative 

 book, in English, on astronomical mythology is Allen's "Star 

 Names and their Meanings," published by Stechert, but its 

 comparatively high price is somewhat against widespread use. 

 Those having access to libraries containing this valuable work will 

 certainly appreciate the pleasure of consulting it. 



The books named thus far will put readers in close touch with 

 the beauties of the night sky and their representations of the great 

 figures of classical mythology. No instruments are required for 

 this kind of astronomy. If, however, anyone desires to see a little 

 more deeply into the depths of space it is possible to do so at 

 slight expense. Nothing more is needed than a good opera, or 

 field-glass and Serviss' volume "Astronomy with an Opera-glass" 

 (D. Appleton & Co.). This httle book is of great value. It tells 

 how to select a glass and then gives ample directions for finding 

 scores of interesting celestial objects which can be seen with it. 



If one is interested in getting some knowledge of the whole 

 field of descriptive astronomy any one of the following books 

 can be recommended: Young's "Elements of Astronomy," 

 Moiilton's "Introduction to Astronomy," Todd's "New Astron- 

 omy," etc. 



By the time anyone has read such books as have been suggested 

 above he will be in a position to enjoy Chamber's "The Story of 

 the Comets," Gierke's "The System of the Stars," Turner's 

 "Astronomical Discovery," Jacoby's "Practical Talks by an 

 Astronomer," Newcomb's Sidelights on Astronomy," Ball's 

 "The Earth's Beginning" and many others which are written for 

 those interested in astronomy but do not wish to be troubled by 

 technical descriptions or details. 



Enough has probably been said to show that a little study of 

 the first two or three books mentioned, which are written especially 

 for those who have no previous knowledge of the science, will 



