ZODIACAL CONSTELLATIONS. 
165 
the stars from wliicli longitude is reckoned by means 
of the J^autical Almanac, constantly used by sailors. 
Castor was celebrated for training borses, Pollux for 
boxing. They accompanied Jason on tbe argonautic 
expedition, and were supposed to exercise power, 
given them by E'eptune, over wind and storm. 
“ Safe comes the ship to haven, 
Through billows and through gales, 
If once the great Twin Brethren 
Sit shining on the sails.” 
Lays of Ancient Rome. 
South of Pollux is a very bright star, Procyon, in 
tbe body of tbe Little Dog. Southeast of tbe Little 
Dog is Canis Major, tbe Great Dog, which contains 
in the bead tbe brightest star in tbe sky, Sirius. 
Other four stars farther south form a double triangle. 
Canis Major and Minor are supposed to be Orion’s 
dogs in j^ursuit of the Hare. 
Following the Twins comes Cancer, or the Crab. 
It is half-way between the Gemini and the Sickle, 
which is in the lion’s neck. It has no definite outline, 
but in its center is a bright spot, which even a small 
glass shows up as separate stars. 
Leo, the Lion, is next to rise. The principal stars 
are in the form of a sickle. Eegulus, first magnitude, 
is in the handle, and seven stars form the curved 
blade. A second magnitude star, Denebola, is in the 
brush of the tail. According to the myth, Leo was a 
famous Hemean lion, slain by Hercules and placed in 
the sky by Jupiter. The Little Lion is between the 
head of Leo and the hind foot of the Great Bear. 
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