306 Pearls. 



in allusion to the famous constellation of that name. 

 This constellation is of course unknown, by obser- 

 vation, to dwellers in the northern hemisphere : 

 and hence a description of it may be acceptable 

 to the English reader. The author has therefore 

 applied for information to the Right Hon. the Earl 

 of Crawford and Balcarres, whose observations at 

 the Dun Echt observatory, in Aberdeenshire, are 

 known in every part of the world where science is 

 cultivated. His lordship, with characteristic courtesy, 

 has most obligingly favoured us with the following 

 interesting letter : — 



Carlton Club, 



Pall M\ll, S.W. 



2/\t}i June, 1886. 

 Dear Sir, 



As 1 'promised, I send you a few notes 



on the constellation known as Crux Australis, or 



'* Southern Cross," and I hope that they may be of 



service to you. 



The existence of this group of stars was not 

 recognized as a separate constellation by the ancients, 

 and they were placed by Ptolemy and 'As-Sufi, 

 the Arabian astronomer, as forming a foot of the 

 Centaur. 



The Arabic globes and catalogues of stars were 

 known in early mediaeval times in Europe, and I 



