METAMORPHOSES OF INSECTS. 47 



time of Octavian. This, he considers, a very rare and ex- 

 traordinary occurrence, not however, it would seem, be- 

 cause it was of blood, but because, as he states, it fell in a 

 country where showers of any kind are unknown. 



123. Stowe, the old British Chronicler, also speaks of 

 several cases of what he calls blood-rain. " In the days 

 of Rivalla," says he, " it rained bloud three days, and then 

 a great mortalitie caused almost desolation." Again, 

 " Li the time of Brithricus of the blood of Cerdicus, who 

 was king of the West Saxons for seventeen years, it 

 rained bloud, which falling on men's clothes, appeared 

 like crosses." Nor does Hollingshed fail to record some 

 scraps of the same history. He relates that in the fifth 

 centuiy, " at Yorke it rained bloud," and that in the 

 seventh, " corne, as it was gathered in the herveste-tirne, 

 appeared bloudie." From Batmans' " Doome " we find 

 that in 1553, it was deemed among the forewarnings of 

 the deaths of Charles and Philip, Dukes of Brunswick, 

 that "ihere wre drops of bloud upon herbs and 

 trees." 



124. In the 'days of Nero, it is said that blood-rain fell 

 in such quantities as to tinge some rivers of a red color. 

 It is likewise recorded by historians, that the phenomenon, 

 or miracle of falling blood, either seen on the leaves of 

 plants, or on stones, or fences, has occurred at various 

 times and places, ever since the Christian era. But after 

 having quoted the above authorities, it will be needless to 

 specify others to establish the general fact of such records. 

 It will therefore be sufficient to state that two instances of 

 bloody rain are recorded to have fallen in the tenth centu- 

 ry, one in the eleventh ; two in the twelfth, one in the 

 thirteenth ; two in the fourteenth ; one in the fifteenth ; 

 and five in the sixteenth. 



125. Thus, although it appears that almost from the 

 earliest times of history, it has been understood and be- 

 lieved that showers of blood actually falling from the air, 

 were not uncommon, still no one as we shall see directly, 

 until about the beginning of the seventeenth century, un- 

 dertook any serious investigations for the purpose of ac- 

 counting for phenomena so extraordinary. 



126. It is most probable this neglect of inquiry aros* 

 from a superstitious dread of interfering with so sacred a 



