the reader can observe with the naked eye, or an opera-glass. Simplicity and brevity have been aimed at, the main idea being that whatever is bulky or verbose is a hindrance rather than a help when actually engaged in the observation of the heavens. The constellations embraced in this manual are only those visible from the average latitude of the New England and Middle States, and owe their place in the particular season in which they are found to the fact that in that season they are favorably situated for observation. With this brief explanatory note of the purpose and design of the book, the author proceeds to outline the scheme of study. SCHEME OF STUDY. The table of contents shows the scheme of study to be pursued, and to facilitate the work it is desirable that the student follow the therein circumscribed order. A knowledge on the part of the reader of Ursa Major, or "the Dipper" as it is commonly called, and "the Pleiades," the well-known group in Taurus, is presupposed by the author. With this knowledge as a basis, the student is enabled in any season to take up the study of the constellations. By following out the order dictated, he will in a few nights of observation be enabled to identify the various configurations making up the several constellations that are set apart for study in that particular season. A large plate, showing the appearance of the heavens at a designated time on the first night of the quarter, is inserted before each season's work. This should be consulted by the student before he makes an observation, in order that he may obtain a comprehensive idea of the relative position of the constellations, and also know in what part of the heavens to locate the constellation which he wishes to identify. A knowledge of one constellation enables the student to determine the position of the next in order. In this work, the identification of each constellation depends on a knowledge of what precedes, always bearing in mind the fact that each season starts as a new and distinct part to be taken by itself, and has no bearing on that which comes before. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION iii SCHEME OF STUDY v The Constellations of Spring. MAP OF THE HEAVENS 9 P.M., APRIL FIRST 3 1. URSA MAJOR 4 2. URSA MINOR 6 Located by the pointer stars in Ursa Major. 3. GEMINI 8 Located by a line drawn through designated stars in Ursa Major. 4. AURIGA 10 Located in the same manner as Gemini. 5. CANCER 12 Located by a line drawn from Auriga to Gemini and prolonged. 6. HYDRA 14 The head of Hydra is to be seen just below Cancer. 7. LEO 16 Located by a line drawn from Gemini to Cancer and prolonged. 8. COMA BERENICES 18 Position indicated by drawing a line through designated stars in Leo. 9. CANIS MINOR 20 Located by a line drawn from Auriga to Gemini and prolonged. 10. CORVUS 22 Located by a line drawn from Ursa Minor through Ursa Major and prolonged. 11. CRATER 24 Located south of Leo and just west of Corvus. METEORIC SHOWERS, APRIL TO JULY 26 The Constellations of Summer. MAP OF THE HEAVENS 9 P.M., JULY FIRST 31 12. DRACO 32 Lies between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, coiling about the latter. 13. LYRA 34 Vega, its brightest star, is 12° S.W. of the Dragon's head. 14. CYGNUS 36 Deneb, its brightest star, is about 20° east of Vega. 15. AQUILA 38 Located by a line drawn from the Dragon's head...