i9i4 _I 9 I 5-] The Story of the Constellations. 189 



KlY.—TEE STORY OF THE CONSTELLATIONS. 

 By Mr T. C. DAY, F.C.S. 

 {Read Oct. 27, 1915.) 



To the majority of people the position of the stars in the night 

 sky is but little known. Dwellers in well lighted cities and 

 large towns have but small opportunity of seeing the stars even 

 on clear nights on account of the glare of electric or gas lamps 

 used for illumination. If the information be sought in book 

 or atlas, the charm of the study is lost unless the stars them- 

 selves can be scanned to verify the work and reward the 

 patient student. But in the country, on a clear moonless 

 night, surely one good look at the starry firmament, with its 

 glittering sparks of fire, the mysterious hazy patches that half 

 elude the sight, scattered here and there, and the silvery path 

 of the galaxy, must stimulate a desire in any thoughtful mind 

 to know something of their meaning and what they have 

 meant to past generations. 



The old saying, 'Each one to his own taste,' has a pro 

 found meaning. A man will follow the bent of his mind — 

 a bent of mind often born with him. An interest in things 

 astronomical is one of these. There are those who can gaze 

 at the stars and never seem tired, born astronomers, who will 

 get up at any hour of the night, if it looks like clearing, to 

 spend a few hours at their favourite work quite indifferent to 

 cold or other drawbacks. Dr Anderson of Edinburgh was 

 one of these, and was handsomely rewarded for his energy on 

 February 21, 1901, when be sfcjle a march on all the great 

 observatories by discovering the celebrated bright new star in 

 the constellation Perseus. On the other hand, there are 

 those — I hope their number may be few — " who canna 

 thole the stars." 



There is really no difficulty in becoming acquainted with 

 the groups or constellations of stars, if one is so minded, with- 

 out being taught. Carlyle used to say, " Why did not some- 

 body teach me the constellations, and make me at home in 



