Perseus is represented as brandishing an enormous sword in his right hand, while in his left he holds the head of Medusa. The constellation comprises eighty-one stars visible to the naked eye.

Principal stars.-The most prominent figure is called the segment of Perseus. It consists of several stars arranged in a line curving toward Ursa Major. Algenib (a), the brightest of these, is of the second magnitude. Algol, in the midst of a group of small stars, marks the head of Medusa. Between the bright stars of Perseus and Cassiopeia is a beautiful star-cluster visible to the naked eye.

Mythological history. --Perseus, from whom this constellation was named, was the son of Jupiter and Danäe. His grandfather, Acrisius, having been informed by the oracle that his grandson would be the

instrument of his death, put the mother and child in a coffer and set them adrift on the sea. Fortunately, they floated near the island Seriphus, where they were rescued and kindly treated by a brother of Polydectes, king of the country. When Perseus had grown up, he was ordered by Polydectes to bring him, as a marriage gift, the head of Medusa. Now Medusa was once a beautiful maiden, who dared to compare her ringlets with those of Minerva; whereupon the goddess changed her locks into hissing serpents, and made her features so hideous, that she turned to stone every living object upon which she fixed her Gorgon gaze. Perseus was at first quite overpowered at the thought of undertaking this enterprise, but was visited by Mercury, who promised to be his guide, and to furnish him with his winged shoes. Minerva loaned him her wonderful shield, that was bright as a mirror. The Nymphs gave him, in addition, Pluto's helmet, which made the bearer invisible. Thus equipped, Perseus mounted into the air and flew to the ocean, where he found the three Gorgons, of whom Medusa was one, asleep. Fearing to gaze in her face, he looked upon the image reflected in Minerva's shield, and with his sword severed Medusa's head from her body. The blood gushed forth, and with it the winged steed PEGASUS. Grasping the head, Perseus flew away. The other Gorgons awaking, pursued him, but he escaped their search by means of Pluto's helmet. Flying over the wilds of Libya, in his aërial route, drops dripping

from the gory head of the monster produced the innumerable serpents for which that country was afterward celebrated.

. Andromeda is represented as a beautiful maiden chained to a rock.

Principal stars.-Algenib and Algol in Perseus form, with Almaach (7) in the left foot of Andromeda, a right-angled triangle opening toward Cassiopeia. This figure is so perfect, that the stars may be easily recognized. The girdle is pointed out by Merach (6), and two other stars which form a line slightly curving toward the right foot. The breast is denoted by a very delicate triangle composed of three stars, ♪ of the fourth magnitude, another of the fifth magnitude just south, and an exceedingly minute star a little at the west. Alpheratz (a), in the head of Andromeda, belongs also to PEGASUS. This star, with three others, all of the second magnitude, constitute the "Great Square of Pégasus." Their names are Algenib (y), Markab (a), and Scheat (6). The brightest stars of these two constellations form a figure strikingly like the Big Dipper. Algenib and Alpheratz lie in the equinoctial colure which passes through Caph.

Mythological history.-Cassiopeia had boasted that her daughter Andromeda was fairer than the Seanymphs. They appealed, in great indignation, to Neptune, who sent a sea-monster (CETUS) to devastate the coast of Ethiopia. To appease the deities, her father Cepheus was directed by the oracle to

offered to liberate her Her parents consented offered a royal dower.

bind his daughter to a rock, to be devoured by Cetus. Perseus returning from the destruction of Medusa, saw Andromeda in her forlorn condition. Struck by her beauty and tears, he at the price of her hand. joyfully, and, in addition, Perseus slew the terrible monster, and freeing Andromeda, restored her to her parents. All the prominent actors in this scene were honored with seats among the constellations. The Sea-nymphs, it is said, in petty spite of Cassiopeia, prevailed that she should be placed where for half of the time she hangs with her head downward-a fit lesson of humility. Cepheus, her husband, shares in her punishment.

Aries, the ram, was anciently the first constellation of the zodiac. It is now the first sign, but the second constellation. On account of the precession of the equinoxes, the constellation Pisces occupies the first sign.

Principal stars.-The most noted star is a Arietis (Alpha of Aries, more commonly called simply Arietis), in the right horn. This lies near the path of the moon and is one of the stars from which longitude is reckoned. A line drawn from Almaach to Arietis will pass through a beautiful figure of three stars called the THE TRIANGLES.

Mythological history.-Phryxus and Helle were the children of Athamas, king of Thessaly. Being per secuted by Ino, their step-mother, they were com

pelled to flee for safety. Mercury provided them a ram which bore a golden fleece. The children were no sooner placed on his back than he vaulted into the heavens. In their aërial journey Helle becoming dizzy fell off into the sea, which was afterward called the Hellespont, now the Dardanelles. Phryxus coming in safety to Colchis, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, offered the ram in sacrifice to Jupiter, and gave the golden fleece to Aetes, his protector. The Argonautic expedition in pursuit of this golden fleece, by Jason and his followers, is one of the most romantic of mythological stories. It is, undoubtedly, a fanciful account of the first important maritime expedition. Rich spoils were the prizes to be secured.

Taurus consists only of the head and shoulders of a bull, which is represented in the act of plunging at Orion.

Principal stars.-The Hyades, a beautiful cluster in the head, forms a distinct V. The brightest of these is Aldebaran, a fiery red star of the first magnitude. The Pleiades,* or the "Seven Sisters," as it is sometimes termed, is the most conspicuous group in the heavens. It contains a large number of stars, six of which are visible to the naked eye. There were said to have been anciently seven, but Electra left her place that she might not behold the ruin of Troy, which was founded by her son Dar

* Job, xxxviii. 31; Amos, v. 8.