48 
NATURE STUDY. 
he continues to pursue her around Polaris without overtaking 
her. 
If the observer will now face the southwest and direct his 
gaze upward rather more than half way from the horizon to the 
zenith he will see a bright star with a decided yellowish tint. 
This is the star Arcturus and is the only single yellow star visi¬ 
ble to the naked eye. It is the brightest star in the constella¬ 
tion Bootes (three syllables) and serves to mark its position. 
About half way from Arcturus to the zenith may be seen a num¬ 
ber of stars in the form of a spiral and diminishing in bright¬ 
ness as the spiral is traced. This is the celebrated Northern 
Crown the brightest star of which is Alphacca. 
About fifteen degrees east of the zenith may now be seen a 
star of the first magnitude, perhaps the brightest of all now 
visible. This is the star Vega.' Near it may be seen two others 
of about the third magnitude, the three forming an equilateral 
triangle. This the most prominent group in the constellation 
Lyra, the harp. It is an interesting fact that one of these lesser 
stars in a small telescope is seen to be a double star, while in a 
large telescope each component is itself seen to be also double, 
so that it is spoken of by astronomers as the double double star. 
“ And next Bo5tes comes whose ordered beams 
Presents a figure driving of his teams, 
Below his girdle, near his knees, he bears 
The bright Arcturus, fairest of the stars. 
Behind his back the radiant crown is view’d, 
And shines with stars of different magnitude ; 
One placed in front above the rest displays 
A vigorous light, and darts surprising rays. 
This shone since Thesus first his faith betrayed, 
The monument of the forsaken maid. 
Nor far from these distended Lyra lies, 
Well strung, the sounding glory of the skies. 
This Orpheus struck when with his wondrous song 
He charmed the woods, and drew the rocks along; 
When Hell obeyed, when Death resigned her chain, 
And loosed his dear Eurydice again. 
This gained it Heaven, and still its force appears, 
And then the rocks it now draws on the stars. 
The planets dance, and to the tuneful sound 
The Heaven consents, and moves the fatal round.”— Manilius. 
