AUGUST. 361 



muster numerous on the walls; the bristly-leaved 

 Picris echioides, and leafy grove Hawkweed (Hiera- 

 cium boreale), in the woods; other species appear 

 throwing a golden hue upon the aftermath of mea- 

 dows, . or limestone banks ; and the Fleabane (Inula 

 dysenterica), opens its specious yellow flowers upon 

 the last days of August. Other signs are, alas ! not 

 wanting the berries of the Mountain Ash are flush- 

 ed ; those of the water Gruelder Rose (Viburnum 

 opulus), and the EJiamnus frangula show their crimson 

 beauties impending above the deep-flowing streams ; 

 the "Willow-herbs (Epilobium) empurple the beds of 

 rivulets and wet ditches, and the Mints are beginning 

 to blossom. 



At this period the great Mullein or Hag Taper 

 (Verbascum tliapsus), shows its " flannel leaves" and 

 lofty spike of yellow flowers in full perfection, like a 

 huge torch in the dusk of evening ; and others, of the 

 same species, flash gloriously by way sides or gardens. 

 In certain spots the tall Dyer's Weed (Reseda luteota), 

 is very conspicuous, and the starry Scabious (Scabiosa 

 or Knautia arvensis), lifts its flowers of regal purple 

 high in air. The little Centaury (Cliironiacentauria), 

 named from Chiron the centaur, about this time 

 adorns many a bank with its bright pink flowers ; and 

 the hedges are over-run with the Eamping Fumitory, 

 the brilliant violet clusters of the tufted Vetch (Vicia 

 cracca), the pink flowers of the Everlasting Pea 

 (LatJiyrus sylvestris), and the conspicuous white bells 

 of the great Convolvulus (G. sepium). 



For a transcient moment the declining sun spangles 

 the glorious scene woods, meadows, cornfields stretch- 

 ing in far perspective, revel in his gorgeous radiance ; 



