A first glimpse of the Hunter and the Bull may be obtained in the east about midnight during late October although it is more convenient to look for them in November or December when the Hunter's huge figure stands squarely in the south. By the middle of May, the battle scene has reached the western horizon. One by one, each sparkling light disappears not to be seen again until the following October. One should say perhaps 'at a convenient hour' for in the summer-time Orion may be seen in the east at dawn. Aurora, the Dawn-goddess, up bright and early to open the sun gates for Apollo, saw the handsome hunter on the sky slope decked with red and white and yellow lights of stars. Like Diana, she loved him immediately, but, in the words of the poets, he pales before her colorful radiance as she reaches upward to announce the coming of the sun. Because dawn takes away the stars, Orion is said to have been carried away by this goddess and even yet this story may be seen enacted when watching the glory of Orion captured by Aurora as she flashes rosy-tinted in the east. THE LION'S SKIN OF ORION [Figure 109] During the course of his adventurous wanderings on earth, Orion once came to the Island of Chios, in the Ægean Sea, where he fell in love with a maiden named Merope. In order to display his skill as a hunter, he cleared the island of its scourge of wild beasts and brought their skins as presents to his sweetheart. This he accomplished alone and unaided except by his mighty club and the protecting hide of a lion. This is the same lion's skin that he wears in the sky during his struggle with Taurus, the Bull, only here it is adorned by a faintly curved row of tiny 4th and 5th magnitude stars, and about ten stars of the 6th magnitude. This "tawny skin" hangs over the Hunter's left arm between his western shoulder and the Bull. "And on his arm the lion's hide Scatters across the midnight air The golden radiance of his hair." --_Longfellow._ The skin appears first of all above the eastern horizon and its little stars flutter vigorously as if being shaken warningly at any who might defy him. Then Orion, arrayed in large stars, slowly rises from his reclining position along the eastern ledge. One might imagine that he at first peers along the south in search of the poisonous scorpion which had stung him on the heel, for this must have been a supreme humiliation for so brave a hunter. But there is nothing in the south but the river Eridanus and the lightly starred Sea-monster with his head reared upward toward Andromeda. Feeling reasonably safe from any rear attacks, Orion now confidently climbs the darkened eastern slope; his Lion's Skin twinkles as he tautens his arm; his great Club is raised in readiness above his head, and joying in the combat, he henceforth wages, in unmolested peace, his eternal battle with Taurus, the Bull. BETELGEUSE, ON ORION'S SHOULDER [Figure 110]