A modern constellation created by the French astronomer Joseph Jerome le Francais de La Lande in 1795. The constellation represents the mural quadrant, an astronomical instrument that he and his nephew used to plot and observe stars. Quadrans Muralis was created from stars found to the north of Bootes, the herdsmen; just behind the tail of the great bear of Ursa Major. The constellation is no longer recognized by astronomers, but a meteor shower which peaks at the beginning of January, known as the Quadrantids, is named after this constellation.