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For particulars and pictures of the different constellations, and other details associated with the study of the star-groupings, the reader is referred to my "Easy Star Lessons," published like the present maps by Messrs. Putnam's Sons. I have to thank the proprietors of the Scientific American for permission to publish these maps, which originally appeared (though in a slightly different form) in the pages of that excellent magazine. The Latin names of the constellations included in the maps of this series are as follows:

THE LITTLE BEAR, Ursa Minor (α, the Pole Star; β, γ, the Guardians).
THE DRAGON, Draco (α, Thuban).
KING CEPHEUS, Cepheus.
THE LADY IN THE CHAIR, Cassiopeia.
THE CHAMPION, Perseus (β, Algol, remarkable variable).
THE CHARIOTEER, Auriga (α, Capella).
THE GREATER BEAR, Ursa Major (α, β, the Pointers).
THE HUNTING DOGS, Canes venatici (α, Cor Caroli).
QUEEN BERENICE'S HAIR, Coma Berenices.
THE HERDSMAN, Boötes (α, Arcturus).
THE NORTHERN CROWN, Corona Borealis.
THE SERPENT, Serpens.
THE KNEELER, Hercules.
THE LYRE, Lyra (α, Vega).
THE SWAN, Cygnus (α, Arided; β, Albireo).
THE WINGED HORSE, Pegasus.
THE CHAINED LADY, Andromeda.
THE TRIANGLES, Triangula.
THE RAM, Aries.
THE BULL, Taurus (α, Aldebaran; η, Alcyone, the chief Pleiad).
THE TWINS, Gemini (α, Castor; β, Pollux).
THE CRAB, Cancer (the cluster between γ and δ is the Beehive).
THE LION, Leo(α, Regulus).
THE VIRGIN, Virgo (α, Spica).
THE SCALES, Libra.
THE SERPENT-HOLDER, Ophiuchus.
THE EAGLE, Aquila (α, Altair).
THE DOLPHIN, Delphinus.
THE WATER CARRIER, Aquarius.
THE FISHES, Pisces.
THE SEA MONSTER, Cetus (ο, Mira, remarkable variable)
THE RIVER, Eridanus.
THE GIANT HUNTER, Orion (α, Betelgeux; β, Rigel).
THE LESSER DOG, Canis Minor (α, Procyon).
THE SEA SERPENT, Hydra (α, Alphard).
THE CUP, Crater (α, Alkes).
THE CROW, Corvus.
THE SCORPION, Scorpio (α, Antares).
THE ARCHER, Sagittarius.
THE SEA-GOAT, Capricornus.
THE SOUTHERN FISH, Piscis Australis (α, Fomalhaut).
THE HARE, Lepus.
THE DOVE, Columba.
THE GREATER DOG, Canis Major, (α, Sirius).
THE SHIP, Argo.
THE CENTAUR, Centaurus.

The following table exhibits the names of all the stars of the first three magnitudes to which astronomers have given names; at least, all those whose names are in common use:

MAP I. NIGHT SKY.—DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

Stars of the first magnitude are eight-pointed; second magnitude, six-pointed; third magnitude, five-pointed; fourth magnitude (a few), four-pointed; fifth magnitude (very few), three-pointed. For star names refer to page 4.

NIGHT SKY.—DECEMBER AND JANUARY

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) is now rising well above the horizon, in the northeast, the Pointers about midway between north and northeast. A line from the Pole Star to the Guardians of the Pole is now in the position of the minute hand of a clock about 28 minutes past an hour. The Dragon (Draco) lies due north, curving round under the Little Bear, its head close to the horizon. Low down in the northwest is a part of the Swan (Cygnus). Higher up we see King Cepheus, his wife Cassiopeia, and their daughter Andromeda (the Seated Lady and Chained Lady, respectively), with the Rescuer (Perseus) nearly overhead. The Winged Horse is setting, his head close by the western horizon, and near the jar of the Water Bearer (Aquarius).

In the southwest is the Whale; and close by, the constellation Pisces, or the Fishes; above them the Ram (Aries), between which and Andromeda the Triangles can be seen.

In the south the River (Eridanus) makes now its best show. Its leading brilliant, Achernar, is, however, never seen in the United States. In the southeast the Great Dog, with the splendid Sirius ("which brightliest shines when laved of ocean's wave"), shows resplendently. Above is Orion now standing upright, treading on the Hare (Lepus) and facing the Bull (Taurus), now at its highest. The Dove (Columba) below the Hare is a modern and not very interesting constellation.

The Little Dog (Canis Minor) is on the east of Orion. In the east the Sea Serpent (Hydra) is rising, and due east a little higher we find Cancer, the Crab, (note the pretty cluster called the Beehive (Prœsepe)); above are the twins (Gemini), and above them the Charioteer (Auriga), with the bright Capella, nearly overhead.

The Lion is rising in the northeast, his heart star Regulus (α) being low down a little north of east.

Lastly, due north, high up, the absurd Giraffe (Camelopardus) stands proudly on his ridiculous head.

NIGHT SKY.—JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) with its Dipper and Pointers, occupies the northeasterly mid-heaven. A line from the Pole Star (α of the Little Bear, Ursa Minor) to the Guardians, β and γ, lies in the position of the minute hand of a clock 23 minutes after an hour. The Camelopard (Camelopardus) is above. The Dragon (Draco), whose head is below the horizon, curves round the Little Bear to between the Guardians and the Pointers. In the northwest, fairly high up, we find Cassiopeia, the Seated Lady, and on her right, lower down, the inconspicuous constellation Cephius. Andromeda, the Chained Lady, is on Cassiopeia's left. The Great Nebula will be noticed in the map—it is faintly visible to the naked eye. Above Andromeda is Perseus, the Rescuing Knight, and above him the Charioteer (Auriga), nearly overhead. On the left of Andromeda is Aries, the Ram, the small constellation the Triangles lying between them.

Toward the southwest, the Whale (Cetus) is beginning to set. The River (Eridanus) occupies the lower part of the southwesterly sky, and extends also to the mid-heavens in that direction. The Dove (Columba) is nearly due south, and at its best—which is not saying much. Above is the Hare (Lepus), on which Orion treads. The Giant now presents his noblest aspect—prince of all the constellations as he is. He faces the Bull (Taurus), known by the Pleiades and the bright Aldebaran.

Close by the poor Hare, on the left, leaps Canis Major, the Greater Dog, with the bright Sirius, which "bickers into green and emerald." The stern of the Star Ship (Argo) is nearing the south.

Very high in the southeast we find the Twins (Gemini), with the twin stars, Castor and Pollux (α and β); and below them the Little Dog (Canis Minor). The Sea Serpent (Hydra) is rearing its tall neck above the eastern horizon (by south), as if aiming either for the Little Dog or for the Crab (Cancer), now high up in the east, with its pretty Beehive cluster showing well in clear weather. The Lion (Leo) is due east, the Sickle (marked by the stars α, η, γ, μ, and ε) being easily recognized.

Queen Berenice's Hair (Coma Berenices, not Berenicis, as often ignorantly given) is in the northeast. It used to mark the tip of the real Lion's tail, just as the stars of the Crab marked his head. The Hunting Dogs occupy the space between Berenice's Hair and the Great Bear.

MAP II. NIGHT SKY.—JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.