the constellations, and memorize the following rhyme you
will have ever at hand for reference at night, a reliable time-piece,
a compass, and a perpetual calendar.

The numbers above the star names indicate consecutively the months of
the year in which these respective objects rise about the first
instant in the eastern sky. In addition to first-magnitude stars the
rhyme refers to the head of Capricornus, the Sea Goat, the Great
Square of Pegasus, and Orion's Belt. All except Arcturus rise between
9 and 9.30 P.M. Arcturus rises at 10 P.M., February 1st.

1
First Regulus gleams on the view,
2 3 4
Arcturus, Spica, Vega, blue,
5 6
Antares, and Altair,
7 8 9
The Goat's head, Square, and Fomalhaut,
10 11
Aldebaran, the Belt, a-glow,
12
Then Sirius most fair.

Eight months of the year are identified by the position of the Dipper
at 9 P.M. In April and May it is north of the zenith. During July and
August it is west of north. In October and November it lies close to
the northern horizon and in January and February it is east of north
with the pointers highest.

THE PLANETS.

It is not within the scope of this work to dwell at length on a
discussion of the planets. Certain explanatory matter regarding them
is necessary, however, to prevent confusion; for the student must bear
in mind the fact that from time to time the planets appear in the
constellations, and unless identified would lead him to think that the
diagrams were inaccurate.

The reader is referred to any one of the four large plates that
precede each season. He will observe that a portion of an ellipse has
been traced on each of them, and that this line has been designated
the Ecliptic, which simply means the sun's apparent pathway across the
sky.

This pathway is divided into twelve equal parts of thirty degrees
each, and to these twelve divisions are given the names of the
constellations of the Zodiac in the following order: Aries ([Symbol:
Aries]), Taurus ([Symbol: Taurus]), Gemini ([Symbol: Gemini]), Cancer
([Symbol: Cancer]), Leo ([Symbol: Leo]), Virgo ([Symbol: Virgo]),
Libra ([Symbol: Libra]), Scorpio ([Symbol: Scorpio]), Sagittarius
([Symbol: Sagittarius]), Capricornus ([Symbol: Capricornus]), Aquarius
([Symbol: Aquarius]), Pisces ([Symbol: Pisces]).

The sun, starting from the first degree of Aries, the first day of
spring