A SEARCH FOR WOLF-RAYET STARS IN ACTIVE STAR-FORMING REGIONS OF LOW-MASS GALAXIES - GR8, NGC-2366, IC-2574, AND NGC-1569

We report the detection, via narrow-band lambda4686 filter imagery, of possible new Wolf-Rayet stars in the most massive giant H II regions of the irregular galaxies NGC 2366 and IC 2574. One stellar knot in the post-starburst galaxy NGC 1569 also appears to contain a weak excess of light at lambda4686. A similar search yielded negative results in the very low mass galaxy GR8. The strongest lambda4686 excess is located close to the secondary eastern knot in the core of NGC 2366-1 (NGC 2363). If this excess is of stellar origin, about five Wolf-Rayet stars of the luminous late-type (WNL) can account for the excess emission. Nebular emission wraps around this cluster in the form of a shell. The putative Wolf-Rayet stars appear to be close to the center of the large expanding H II bubble discovered by Roy et al. [ApJ, 367, 141 (1991)]. A possible nebular origin of the lambda4686 excess is also discussed.