212 FORTY DAYS OF ST. SWITHIN. 



JULY 30. St.Julitta, A.D. 303. 

 SS. Abdon and Sumen, martyrs, 250. 



06s. St. Julilta was a rich lady of Cappadosia, who died a 

 martyr in 303. 



The other martyrs recorded today were Persians, but, coming to 

 Rome, couraL::eously confessed the faith of Christ in the persecution 

 of Decius in 250. They were cruelly tormented, but the more their 

 bodies were torn and mangled the more were their souls adorned 

 and beautified with divine grace. They suffered at Rome, and their 

 bodies were deposited in the house of a subdeacon called Guirinus. 

 In the reign of Constantine the Great their relics were removed into 

 the ancient burying place of Pontian. 



White Mullein Verbascum Lychnitis full fl. 

 Scarlet Lightning Lychnis Chalcedonica defl. 

 Sweet Williams Dianthus barbatus defl. 



The Pinks are now quite gone, all but the Carnations, and the 

 Roses almost faded ; indeed the solstitial Flora is now decidedly on 

 the decline, and the aestival coming on apace. Many plants are in 

 seed. Poppy heads are cut at this time, and gathered into sheaves to 

 dry. 



The harvest often begins with Wheat and Rye, which are not un- 

 frequently earned by this time. 



Swifts begin now to fly very high in the air, and with shriller cries 

 than in the early part of the year. Swallows and Martins congre- 

 gate, and small birds of many sorts resort to the fields in flocks. 

 Starlings are seen together in very great flocks, and by their peculiar 

 flight and harsh note are easily distinguished from the rest of our 

 small birds. Pliny says of them, In nrbe volant, omnibus in medium 

 agmen tendentibus. 



There begins now to be a very perceptible night, and we also ob- 

 serve, to use a common phrase, that the days begin to draw in of an 

 evening. 



