THE ST AKS FUR FEBRUARY. 591 



mark the head of Hydra (the Sea-Serpent), and the hinder paws on the stars 

 Beta and Zeia of Virgo. It seems to me likely that originally the constellations 

 named after men, animals, and other objects, were not, as now, separated from 

 each other ; but that if any group, large or small, seemed to resemble any object it was 

 named after that object, whether it formed part or not of any other group already 

 named, or whether it included part of such a group or was itself partly included 

 in another constellation. 



Of Virgo, which is just beginning to rise above the horizon, 1 shall have 

 more to say next month. 



In the west Pegasus, which was nearly in full view last month, has almost 

 wholly set. Andromeda (still head downward) is following the Winged-Horse, 

 but not toward the same part of the horizon. Perseus, or "the Rescuer," who 

 was overhead last month, now Hes between Andromeda and the point overhead, 

 while Auriga (the Charioteer) now occupies the highest region in the heavens. 



Two interesting constellations, which last month could not be seen in the 

 -western map, have now passed within its precincts, namely, Taurus (the Bull), 

 and Cetus (the Sea Monster or whale). 



It is very easy to identify the Bull, first by the Pleiads, and, secondly, by 

 the bright and somewhat ruddy Aldebaran. The famous cluster — the so called 

 seven Pleiads- — in reality contains an immense number of stars, forming a very 

 beautiful and amazing object when examined even with a small telescope. It is 

 fabled that there were once seven Pleiads visible to the naked eye, but that one, 

 called the lost Pleiad, has faded from view. With good eye-sight, however, not 

 only can the original seven Pleiads be distinctly seen, but several others. A few 

 observers have even seen as many as fourteen Pleiads. 



The star [Omicron) Ceti is perhaps the most interesting star in the heavens. 

 It is shown, in the map, of the second magnitude, but is in reality variable. At 

 its brightest it shines as a star of the second magnitude; but it only shines thus 

 for about two months out of ten. For about a fortnight it shines as a star of the 

 second magnitude, then by degrees it fades away, until at the end of three months 

 it can hardly be seen. After remaining about five months invisible, it gradually 

 increases in brightness for about three months when it is again a second magnitude 

 star. It occupies about 331 days and eight hours in going through these changes. 

 — Easy Star Lessons. 



