296 OF METEOROLOGICAL CHAP. 10. 1. 



It is commonly said of Rain on this Day, 

 that it is St. Swithin christening the Apples. 



In the Almanack of Poor Robin for 1697, 

 may be found some instructive lines on this 

 day.* 



St. Margaret's Day, July 20, used to have 

 some curious superstitions connected with it, 

 relative to the fecundating power of this Lady's 

 Festival, quite at variance with her character as 



* Poor Robin ends a poetical account of the long rainy 

 time likely to follow Rain on St. Swithin's Day, as follows : 

 " Better it is to rise by time, 

 And to make hay when the Sun do shine, 

 Than to believe in tales and lies, 

 Which idle Monks and Friars devise." 



The Scotch say: 



" St. Swithin's Day, gif ye do rain, 

 For forty daies it will remain ; 

 St. Swithin's Day, an ye be fair, 

 For forty daies 'twill Rain na mair." 



The Dog Star alluded to by Churchill signifies the period of 

 the days when Syrius reigns. Horace alludes to the extreme 

 heat of the Hour of the little Dog, in his Ode to the Fountain 

 of Bandusia. 



" O Fons Blandusiae, splendidior vitro, 

 Dulci digne mero, non sine floribus, 

 Cras donaberis hoedo : 



Cui frons turgida cornibus 



