January 1, 1887.] 



♦ KNO^^TLEDGE ♦ 



63 



an Octant, an Altar, and a Triangle, stands natui-ally on its 

 liead. In the south-east we see the Centaur, offering the 

 Wolf, Lujnis, on the Altar, Ai-a, all being in extraordinary 

 positions, for Centaums is prone on his human face and his 

 equine chest and forelegs, while the Altar is inverted. The 

 Cross, C'ni.f, lies on its side, half-way between the horizon 

 and the point overhead. 



On the western side of the south we see the Magellanic 

 Clouds, high up ; the Phoenix low down in the south-west. 



galactic stream is interrupted, and two fan-shaped expansions 

 stretch out towards the dark gap. 



Turning to the east, we see the Virgin, Virgo, low down ; 

 above her, Corvus, the Crow, and above that, slightly to the 

 left, the Cup, Crater. Hi/Jra, the Sea Serpent, of which 

 these two small constellations were once part, extends 

 athwart the mid-east towards the mid-north, near which we 

 see the Sea Serpent's head. In the north-east is the Lion, 

 Leo ; next him, nearly due north, is the Crab, Caiicer ; then. 



Night Skies of the Southebx Hemisphere foe Mabch, showixg the Southebn Half of our Northern Skies (Upper 

 Half of the Map) and the whole of the Skies in Southern Latitudes, at the following Times:— 



At 10 o'clock, March 8. 

 „ 9| „ March 12. 

 „ 9' „ March 16. 



At 9i o'clock, March 20. 

 „ 9 „ March 23. 

 „ 81 „ March 26. 



At 8{ o'clock, March 30. 

 „ 8i „ April 3. 

 „ 8 „ April 7. 



and the River Eridauus straggling along towards the west 

 and beyond ; besides several small constellations and parts of 

 constellations not very noteworthy. 



Overhead is the Ship Arcjo, and the very interesting region 

 of the Milky Way, in the midst of the Ship, where the gi-eat 



west of north, we see Gemini, extended horizontally; and, 

 passing along the zodiac, we come to Tauru$, extending low 

 and long, above the north-west horizon. 



Nearly overhead, in the north-west, is Canis, the Dog, 

 with the splendid Sirius, shining more brightly, though less 



