CHAPTER XVI.

CONSTELLATIONS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Op each of the twelve constellations, which never set in the latitude of London, I will give you a short account.

With which shall you begin, mamma? Shall it be that nearest the pole?

Yes you can tell me the name of that assemblage of stars, and of the one at the extremity of the tail.

The name of the constellation is Ursa Minor, and the star to which you refer, is Alruccabah, or the polar star. By what people was this constellation formed?

Its name, Cynosura, would clearly give it a Grecian origin; but its more ancient name was Phoeuice, which leads us to look to the Phoenicians, as its inventors. It is, therefore, probable, that Thales brought it thence into Greece. Indeed, without the influence of the guiding ray of the polar star, we can conceive it scarcely possible, they could have undertaken their daring expeditions.

How many stars are there in this

group?

There are seven, which, in their arrangement, resemble those of the Great Bear; but the whole of this constellation comprises 24 stars.

What do the Greeks say of this constellation?

Diana's nymph, Callistho, and her son Areas, were, they say, turned into bears, by the jealous and imperious Juno; but, to preserve them from injury, they were translated to the heavens.

Did this constellation ever exist in any other form than that of a bear?

Yes: both this and Ursa Major were formerly represented by the outline of a wagon.

Nor can it be doubted, that the stars approach nearer to that form, than to the animal referred

to.

The four stars, placed in a quadrangular form, may to the eye of fancy represent the body of a carriage, while the other three, placed one before the other, may present the idea of three oxen, or horses, harnessed, and drawing the wagon round the polar star.

But how is it probable, that the appellation of wagon, should ever have been changed into that of Great Bear?

You are fully aware, that this is a very large constellation; so large, that when the star, Dubhe, comes to the meridian on the first day of every month, it is above the pole, while the southern extremity approaches within about thirty-two

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degrees of the equator, extending to the seventysecond degree of north declination. So that it is vertical, by the diurnal motion of the earth, to Europe, most of Asia, and to North America. You will not, therefore, be surprised, when I tell you, that the Indians called this the great constellation. So far I can proceed: for the rest, I must refer you to Mr. Maurice, who says, "the three words, the great constellation, are in the Sanscrit comprised in the term Maharesha. This the Greeks translated literally, the Great Bear; but it should be remembered, that the latter member of the Sanscrit word signifies at once a constellation, and a bear. From this compound Indian word, ill understood, it is more than probable, that on the present sphere that monstrous production, unknown in any region of the earth, a bear, with a very long tail, was portrayed. In similar mistakes may possibly have originated the other monsters, equally unknown to nature, and delineated on our sphere; as dragons with hairy heads, and crooked dolphins."

How many stars are there in this assemblage?

Eighty-seven.

Whom did the Greeks honour with a place in this constellation?

Callistho.

Will you tell me who Callistho was, and give

me the explanation of what you said respecting the Little Bear.

Callistho was probably an ancient astronomer, who, from his almost incessant attention to Ursa Major, was denominated the son of that constellation; and, when he was dead, his soul was thought to have taken up its abode in Arcturns, the nearest star of distinguished splendour, whence it might continue to observe the object of its regard.

Which of the two Bears, was the constellation first formed?

The greater Bear. This for a time was the guide alike on the ocean, and through the deserts of Arabia; but, as commerce increased, this was found to occupy too wide a space in the heavens to be an unerring guide, when it is probable the brilliant and steady light of Alruccabah attracted the attention of astronomers finding stars, that could be formed into a group resembling their admired guide, they added a new, a valuable constellation. From the situation of the polar star, this constellation was placed among the hieroglyphics of Egypt, as an emblem of stability.

You have given to the formation of Ursa Major and Minor, a very early date, attributing one, I presume, to Chaldea, and the other to Phænicia; do you assign Draco to either of these

countries?