1885.] NEW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 183 



" I. And first for the raining of worms; it may be thought 

 that the putrefaction of some dead carcasses or other hath been 

 drawn up into the aire as fumes and vapours are, where it 

 breedeth such worms as use to breed out of the like matter 

 here below. 



" 2. The like may be said of frogs, when the vapour is ex- 

 haled out of marish grounds at such times as they engender. 



" 3, So also of fishes ; excepting that (as is supposed) the 

 force of winds may suddenly sweep away little frey out of ponds 

 upon montanous places ; and so also little young frogs, with 

 many the like things, may be taken up. Some write of a whole 

 calf falling from the clouds ; and have been thereupon perswaded 

 that it is possible, of Vapours and Exhalations, with the power 

 of heavenly bodies concurring, a calf may be made in the aire. 

 But this is idle. It was therefore (as others write) taken up in 

 some storm of whirlwind, and so let fall again. 



"4. As for wheat and other grain, it hath been observed that 

 their raining down hath often come in case of extremitie, to the 

 great preservation and refreshment of the distressed : in which 

 regard it may be supposed that it was an immediate work of 

 God, wrought without the rule of nature : so that were all the 

 wits in the world prest into one, yet were they all too weak to 

 shew a true cause of such a prodigie. * * * To speak there- 

 fore as I think, I will not boldly affirm how this was caused, but 

 onely touch at the possibilitie of it ; namely, that it might be 

 effected like unto other strange rains, first drawn from the earth 

 into the aire, and then sent down again. * * * He that hath 

 seen (saith one) an egg-shell full of dew drawn up by the sunne 

 into the aire, in a May morning, will not think it incredible that 

 wheat and other grain should be drawn up in much hotter 

 countreys then ours is, much rather the meal or flower which is 

 lighter. 



"5. By the like reason also it sometimes raineth milk: for 

 when the intensissimus salts calor, the vehement heat of the 

 sunne, shall either draw milk from the udders of cattell, and 

 shall mix it with the other parts of the cloud ; or shall so 

 throughly trie, purifie, digest or concoct the vapour, that it may 

 look something white, then will the drops look as if it rained 

 milk. 



" 6. As for the raining of flesh, it is supposed to be after this 



