If this swan is really Cycnus it seems strange that he was not depicted as flying down the wavy line of Eridanus' stars instead of being placed over the silvery stream of the Milky Way, for the river Eridanus, into which Phæthon had fallen, was placed in the winter sky at the foot of Orion. This was supposed to console Apollo for the loss of his son. Perhaps the Swan is Orpheus, as some mythologists claim, carried up to the constellations to be near his well-loved harp. However, no matter which 'human' this long-necked bird is supposed to represent, we see its gigantic, graceful outlines sketched with star-like lightness beyond the stars of the Cross, and we see his snow-white wings extended and the orange light of Albireo shining on his beak, as he flies softly, head downward, along the misty river of stars. [Figure 75: THE ZENITH CONSTELLATIONS AND THE SPECTATORS OF THE PAGEANT.] CHAPTER VII THE SPECTATORS OF THE ZENITH PAGEANT AQUILA, _the Eagle_. SAGITTARIUS, _the Archer_. DELPHINUS, _the Dolphin_. HYDRA, the _Water-snake_. AURIGA, _the Charioteer_. THE above constellations, which lie to either side of the great summer parade of star-figures which crosses the heavenly dome, will be called, for convenience in locating them, "the spectators." The story of the "spectator" Ophiuchus, who is grasping Serpens (which is a separate constellation but usually mentioned in conjunction with Ophiuchus), has already been mentioned under the adventures of the giant Hercules, and that of Crater, the Cup and of Corvus, the Crow, will appear in connection with the Water-snake. The four large stars in the southern part of the sky--Spica, Antares, Formalhaut and Sirius--are, however, better taken in a group by themselves, for they are thus more easily remembered as large stars conspicuous in different seasons of the year in a region where large stars are scarce. AQUILA, THE EAGLE [Figure 76] Aquila, the Eagle, was given a constellation not far below the Cross, at the edge of the Milky Way. This Eagle is designated as the Flying Eagle so as not to be confused with the Eagle which holds Lyra, the Harp. In mythology the eagle was supposed to be the bird of Jupiter because it could fly higher than other birds. This particular eagle stood by the throne in the palace on Mount Olympus and carried the thunderbolts in his claws. "He, a bird, supplies the heavens with sacred bolts and arms the skies."