OF THE constellations, and the

be found. But to trace the origin of this in-vention, and to sliew why one animal had thehonour of being advanced to heaven in pre-ference to another, is no easy talk. M. Freret,the Abbe la Pluche, and several other writers ofconsiderable eminence, have ransacked all thelegends of fabulous history for the illustration ofthis subject; but, except in a few obvious in-stances, no consistent and satisfactory accounthas yet been given.

Most of the memorable events and customs ofancient times were involved in obscure hiero-glyphical representations ; and many of the con-stellations are probably symbols of this kind.The division of the zodiac into twelve signs, ofthirty degrees each, has a manifest relation tothe twelve months of the year; and the ani-mals, by which those signs are denoted, wereperhaps designed as emblems of the differentproductions of nature, in those seasons overwhich they preside ; or as indicating certain cir-cumstances relating to the motion of the fun inthe heavens. Many of the constellations alsoappear to have been formed in honour of certainheroes and celebrated personages, whose memorythey were meant to perpetuate ; and any vagueresemblance of a crown, a cross, or a triangle,would occasion the parts of the heavens wherethey were found to be called by those names.This manner of classing the stars is indeed so

natural,