VI PREFACE. 



lore, I liavc sought to embody a few of the 

 most interesting, and to describe especially, 

 such flowers as observe a fixed time of 

 opening or shutting, and from which Lin- 

 naeus constituted his celebrated horologe, 

 or Watch of Flora, 



Nothing more remains to be observed 

 concerning this small volume, except as 

 regards its title. To those who appreciate 

 the Book of Common Prayer I need scarcely 

 mention, that the tenns Matin and Even 

 Song are used in reference to the time 

 appropriated for reading such lessons as are 

 appointed for the daily services. When 

 considering the regular opening and closing 

 of those flowers which Linnaeus termed 

 solar, because rejoicing as it were, when the 

 sun arises, throwing wide their petals to his 

 beams, and closing them at even tide, as if 



