HOW TO FIND THF CONSTELLATIONS. 159 
portance, being then of the second magnitude. 
Turning now to the South, the observer will see that 
magnificent twinkler, Sirius, almost exactly on the merid¬ 
ian, with Betelgeuse several degrees to the westward. To 
the eastward, at about the same altitude as the latter, and 
just about as far from the meridian, is another first magni¬ 
tude star. This is the principal star in the constellation 
Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog, and is named Procyon. 
This is one of the small constellations, containing only 
fourteen stars, and, according to a Greek fable, is one of 
Orion’s hounds. Between Canis Major below, Canis Minor 
above and Orion on the right, is an almost starless region 
on ordinary nights. This comprises the constellation 
Monoceras, the Unicorn. 
Turning now to the eastward, one can see a star of the 
first magnitude, at an altitude of about forty-five degrees, 
with a line of stars above it curved in such a way as to re¬ 
semble the reaper’s sickle. The name of this star is Reg- 
ulus, and it is at the very extremity of the handle. This 
is the distinguishing group of the constellation Leo, the 
Lion, and is the sixth of the zodiacal constellations, start¬ 
ing from the vernal equinox, the ecliptic passing within 
less than a degree of Regulus. At present the ruddy 
planet Mars appears just below this constellation. Accord¬ 
ing to fable, this is the famous Nemaean Lion which was 
slain by Hercules and was placed among the stars by Jupi¬ 
ter in commemoration of that dreadful conflict. The lion 
was and is the emblem of violence and fury everywhere; so 
it is not surprising to find it in all the Indian and Egyp¬ 
tian zodiacs. In the Hebrew zodiac, Leo is assigned to 
Judah, on whose standards, according to all traditions, a 
lion is painted. In the old Hebrew writings several refer¬ 
ences to this are made. “Judah is a lion’s whelp; he 
stooped down, he crouched as a lion, and as an old lion; 
who shall rouse him up?’’ Again, “The Lion of the tribe 
of Judah has prevailed.’’ 
