The Number Of Stars We Can See.

second magnitude ; some tAvo hundred of the third , and so on ; and tho numbers increase very rapidly as AVC descend in the scale of brightness . A late French astronomer has estimated the number , including' all iqj to the thirteenth

magnitude , at seventy-seven millions . NOAV the question is , from how many of these seventyseven millions of stars can the earth be seen ? Probably it would have surprised some of the ancient astronomersAVIIO made

, this earth the centre of the universe , and ¦ who believed tho stars Avere created simply to please our eyes , and to make nights beautiful , if they had been told that this little mud-ball on which AVC live could not

be seen from one of those stars . Yet such seems to be the fact . Tho nearest of those stars—Ave do not count the planets —are so far from the solar system that our sun itself appears to them as a star of the second magnitude . Neither the earth nor Mars , nor Jupiter—Avhich is tAvelve hundred times greater than the earthnor Saturn , nor even Uranus or Neptune , is visible to one of them .

Even for some of the planets that revolve about the sun , our earth is a very small matter . Venus and , Mercury see us as we ourselves see Jupiter or Mars ; for Mars the earth is a brilliant star ; and it can be seen even from Jupiter . But from Jupiter Ave appear very close to

the sun , ancl are often lost in its rays . ltanust be very difficult , under themost favourable circumstances , for an inhabitant of Saturn to see out earth , on account of our nearness to the sun . Finally , if there are astronomers on Uranus or Neptune , it is almost certain ; that the earth is entirely unknown to them .

Our Archaeological Corner.

Our Archaeological Corner .

THE TEMPLE OF ELEPHANTA . WE think that the account of the famous Temple of Elephanta , in which it is said Masons marks are read , will be interesting to our readers , as well from an account of : the description of itso well ivenas of

, g , the associations connected Avith our Royal Grand Master ' s visit . " The Prince made the trip which had heen previously arranged to the remarkable caves of Elephanta . These are

situated in an island Avhich lies midway between the toAvn and the main land , and present a sight full of the deepest interest to students of religions history , as Avell as many curious problems of art and architecture .

" A grand banquet had been prepared under the colossal three-headed deity at the extremity of the cavern , to Avhich one hundred ancl sixty guests sat doAvn , the Prince of Wales presiding . " The temple in Avhich the bulk of the

party IIOAV found themselves is a great square excavation , measuring one hundred and thirty feet each way , and its height is from sixteen to twenty feet from floor to roof . It has been dug , by enormous and patient labour , out of the solid rock of the

mountain ; but the brain Avhich conceived it , and the age or dynasty which saAV it excaA'ated , are subjects of mere speculation or idle fable . The sculptures of the gods and the other mythical personages Avhich occupy three sides of the square temple ,

the chief opening by Avhich the guests entered being on the fourth side , are of colossal size , ancl for the most part extend from the floor to the ceiling .

" Altogether there were nine great groups of sculpture , of Avhich five Avere against the Avail opposite the entrance by Avhich all came in , two were on the right hand Avail , and the remaining two on the left . The chief among thein Avas the triune Shivaa huge figure Avith three

, faces , one face representing his function of Creator , another that of Preserver , and the third that of Destroyer , of the "World . As Brahma , the Creator , he holds a gourd , his drinking vessel , in one of his hands , and there is much noble sublimity in the face .

As Vishnu , the Preserver , he holds a lotus flower , and there is a colour of the same sublimity in the countenance . As Rudra , the Destroyer , he smiles on a deadly cobra , whose folds wreathed round his arm , Avhose eyes are looking into his , ancl whose

hood is expanded as if the creature were about to strike . The Destroyer ' s cap is adorned with a skull and other symbols not so easily explained . I have particularized this group because it is ri ght in front of it that his Royal Highness sat at

the banquet during the evening . The calm , grand face of Brahma looked almost over Ms Eoyal Highness ' s head ; and in its stony stillness , its gaze ran along the