an hour before Sirius, the Dog Star,
hence it was called Procyon from two Greek words which signify "before
the dog."

Procyon is one of our nearest neighbors in space, at a distance of ten
light years, and is attended by a very faint companion which is only
visible in the largest telescopes.

[Illustration: CANIS MINOR]

CORVUS (k[^o]r'-vus)--THE CROW. (Face South.)

LOCATION.--A line drawn from the Bee Hive, in Cancer, through Regulus,
in Leo, and prolonged about 40[deg], ends near the conspicuous
quadrilateral which distinguishes Corvus. The brightest star in this
region of the sky is Spica, in Virgo. It lies about 10[deg] northeast of
Algorab.

[z] is a double star for an opera-glass. A faint pair of stars lie
close below and to the west of [b]. The Crow is represented as
standing on, and pecking at, the coils of Hydra. The star Al Chiba is
in the Crow's bill.

Corvus was known as the Raven in Chaucer's time.

[d] is an interesting telescopic double.

A line drawn from [g] to [b] Corvi and prolonged twice its length
locates the third-magnitude star [i] Centauri in the right shoulder of
the Centaur. The brightest stars in this constellation are not visible
in this latitude.

[Illustration: CORVUS]

CRATER (kr[=a]'-ter)--THE CUP. (Face South.)

LOCATION.--Crater is situated 15[deg] west of Corvus, and due south of
[th] Leonis. It is easily distinguished by reason of a beautiful and
very striking semicircle of six stars of the fourth magnitude, forming
the bowl of the cup.

The constellation resembles a goblet with its base resting on the
coils of Hydra.

The star Alkes is common to Hydra and Crater, and may be seen 24[deg]
southeast of Alphard in the heart of Hydra. It is distinguished by its
forming an equilateral triangle with [a] and [g], stars of the same
magnitude 6[deg] south and east of it.

Corvus and Crater are to be seen half-way up the southern sky during
the early evenings in spring.

[d] is now the lucida.

Crater is situated at about the centre of Hydra and is on the
meridian, April 26th. Owing to its many faint stars it is best seen on
a clear moonless night.

The zodiacal light is well worth observing at this season of the year.
It is to be seen in the western sky shortly after sundown, and is most
intense during the evenings of March.

[Illustration: CRATER]

METEORIC SHOWERS.

APRIL TO JULY.

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