LAMMAS TIDE. 219 



AUG. 6. Transfiguration of our Lord. 



St. Xystus II. pope and martyr, 3d cent. 



SS. Justus and Pastor, martyrs. 



Obs. The church today records the change which our Lord exhi- 

 bited on the top of Mount Tabor to his disciples SS. Peter. John, 

 and James, in attestation of the change to a more purified and un- 

 earthly state, which it is unnecessary for us to undergo tjefore we can 

 obtain the kingdom of heaven. His face was changed, and shone 

 bright as the sun, and his garments became white as snow. As a 

 little birdlime on the feathers, says the sacred historian, holds down 

 the strongest pinions, and prevents the bird from rising to the sky ; 

 so the least earthly dust clogs the wings of the soul, and retards its 

 ascent into heaven. We ought therefore to endeavour to free our- 

 selves gradually by penance, austerity, and vigilance from the least 

 earthly attachments, that in the practice of faith, hope, and charity, 

 we may at length fit our souls for a more glorified body, and may 

 unfurl the wings of expectation at the hour when the ties of our ter- 

 restrial bondage shall be cut asunder. — When we see the grey clouds 

 suddenly covered with purple and gilded with light at the rising of 

 the sun, we ought to meditate on the sudden transfiguration of our 

 Lord, and the illumination which the soul receives by the unction 

 of divine love. — Flor, Div. Asp. 



St. Xystus was otherwise by transposition of letters called Sixtus, 

 and was the second Pope of that name. He suffered martyrdom in 

 the reign of Valerian. 



Meadow Saffron Colchicum autumnale fl. raro. 



Narrow Haresear Bttpleurum odontites full fl. 



Eryngo Eryngium Campestre full fl. 



Sea Holy Eryngium maritimum full fl. 



Shrubby Saltwort Salsola fruticosa fl. 



Belladonna Star Lily Amaryllis Belladonna full fl. 



Green Narcissus Narcissus viridijiorus fl. 



Greatheaded Garlic Allium ampelopratnm fl. 



Floating Pondweed Potamogeton Jluitans fl. 



Broadleaved Pondweed Potamogeton nutans full fl. 



One of the characteristic features in this time of year is the green 

 covering which ponds and ditches get from the encrease of the va- 

 rious species of Pondweed and Duckweed. In some places this 

 becomes quite as green as Grass with it. Ducks are said to keep 

 the ponds clear from it, which is in some measure true. 



The Star Lily recorded today requires nightly shelter if the wea- 

 ther be cold. The most beautiful of the tribe is St. James's Cross 

 Amaryllis Jacobaea or formorissima, which is in full blow on St. 

 James's Day, July 25. Most of the species require a greenhouse, 

 and many a hothouse. One of the most superb is the Amaryllis 

 Vittata. 



