32 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [17:1— Jan., 1921 



One star in that vicinity has a peculiar history which shows 

 that it was doubtless in the nebula. It suddenly kindled from 

 invisibility into brilliancy which in a few days was extremely 

 increased. This brilliancy can doubtless be explained in the same 

 manner as the ignition of meteors in our atmosphere. "If a 

 dark star, moving along at terriffic speed through space, were sud- 

 denly to plunge into a dense region of the nebula, heat and light 

 must be evolved in sufficient abundance to transform the star into 

 a brilliant object." 



The raythology connected with this constellation is very inter- 

 esting and can scarcely be separated from that of the other mem- 

 bers of the royal family. Cepheus was King of Ethiopia, Cassiopeia 

 was his wife and Queen and Andromeda was their daughter. 

 Cassiopeia, the Queen, was extremely beautiful and boasted that 

 she was more beautiful than Juno and the sea n3miphs. They of 

 course were greatly insulted and complained to Neptune, who sent 

 a frightful monster to ravage the coast of Ethiopia. Cepheus and 

 his Queen became very much alarmed and consulted the oracles. 

 They were advised that nothing but the sacrifice of their daughter 

 Andromeda to the sea monster would appease the wrath of the 

 enraged nymphs. Andromeda was therefore chained to a rock to 

 await her doom. 



Just at that time Perseus, the son of Jupiter, who was returning 

 from an expedition in which he had secured the head of Medusa, 

 one of the three Gorgons, appeared and seeing the Princess Andro- 

 meda chained to the rock, fell in love with her. 



"Chained to a rock she stood; Young Perseus stay'd 

 His rapid flight, to woo the beauteous maid." 



He professed to her father that he would save her if she would 

 be allow^ed to marry him. The King promised and Perseus 

 changed the monster to stone by turning the reeking head of 

 Medusa upon it. Andromeda had, however, been promised to 

 Phineus, her Uncle, who violently opposed her marriage to Perseus. 

 In the battle which followed Phineus was also turned to stone by 

 the petrifying influence of the Gorgon's head. The celebration 

 of the nuptials soon followed and they lived happily together 

 during life and were all transferred to the sky after death. 



