History of Animal P /agues. 59 



notable year for its drought, many people and cattle dyino- of 

 thirst.'^ 



A.D. 1014. ' Tn the previous year there had been many pre- 

 cursory celestial signs, omens of strange import, which were 

 verified this year in Bohemia, where there was a fearful heat and 

 drought. During the whole of the spring, and for nearly the 

 whole summer, the weather was hotter than molten lava; the 

 plains and the beautiful woods were scorched by the heat of the 

 sun. The rivers were dried up, the springs were exhausted, the 

 lakes and ponds were corrupted and putrescent, many people 

 perished, as well as the greatest part of all kinds of animals. 

 Especially did immense numbers of fish die.' ^ 



A.D. 1015. In Ireland, ' a disease of the legs [Cos ghalar, 

 probably scurvy) among the Danes, and a plague of rats (or mice, 

 LiLch) among the Danes and the Leinstermen.' ^ The term 

 Lnch is applied indiscriminately to rats or mice. The word 

 ' Narraway' is still used by the Irish-speaking people for the 

 modern brown rat, which, it is believed by naturalists, replaced 

 the old Irish black rat. They were probably introduced by the 

 Scandinavian vessels, then so numerous on the coasts of Ireland. 

 The Chronicon Scotorum gives the year 1013, as the date of 

 this occurrence. Mr Wenessev thinks that the irruption of rats 

 should be translated a plague of putrefaction among the foreign- 

 ers and Lagenenians. 



A.D. 1016. In Ireland, 'great mortality of cattle on account 

 of the excessive rains/ * 



A.D. 1022. A most unfortunate year, in which a great mor- 

 tality prevailed amongst animals, and pestilence in mankind. 

 Fruits and plants were destroyed,^ and in Spain there was an 

 invasion of locusts. 



A.D. 1028. ' In the present year an invasion of cicadae and 

 caterpillars in Bohemia, following a very plentiful harvest. In- 

 numerable swarms of butterflies also appeared, so that every- 

 thing green in garden and field or in the woods was devoured. 

 Dense and foul-smelling vapours had preceded this visitation, 



' Annal. .Sangall. ^ //rt^t-/' and IJlwczan. Annal. Bolicnior., v. p. 74. 



^ Chronic. .Scotorum. * Annals of Innisfallcii. 



* Mirac. Vcroli. Presbyt. Acta Sancta. iJolland., p. 385. 



