68 History of Animal Plagtces. 



At this time also died the hen fowls {henne fugeles), and now 

 o-rew scant the flesh meat, the cheese, and the butter.' ^ 



A.D. 1 133. *^A destruction of cows {hodhiohhadh) came into 

 all Ireland, the like of which was not known since the former 

 destruction of cows in the time of Flaithbheartach, son of 

 Loingsech, and there were 432 years between them.' ^ 



'A maelgarhh this year, which killed the cows and swine 

 of Erinn, excepting a trifle.' ^ 



A.D. 1 134. ' The same cow-mortality still devastates Ireland.' * 

 In France, the air was so intemperate that birds fell dead. Flan- 

 ders and the neighbouring countries were inundated by the sea 

 during this and the next year, so that great loss in human life 

 and in cattle was sustained.' ^ 



A.D. 1 142-3. Tempestuous weather in England, which in- 

 duced a desolating famine that lasted for twelve years. At this 

 time immense swarms of what were called small flying worms, 

 which darkened the sun, appeared. These ate everything up. 

 From a had air a sore plague arose on man and beast.'' 



A.D. 1 149. A snowy and severe winter, on which account 

 the grain was destroyed in the fields by snow. An epizooty in 

 Belgium. ' In our land, by some death-bringing contagion or 

 pestilence, sheep, oxen, and all kinds of cattle were hurried away 

 b\' death. Wherefore I have devoted one-fourth of my herd of 

 cattle to the blessed Gerlacus.' " In Germany, a great mortality 

 among cattle, which in the pastures and sheds suddenly fell and 

 died.^ 



A.D. 1151. 'Inundations and heavy rains, followed by a 

 most grievous pestilence among men and cattle. Failure of the 

 crops, and consequent famine of a dreadful kind.' ^ From this 

 time till 1169, there were severe winters and dry summers, and 

 famine and pestilence swept the world, but especially did Scot- 



1 Chronic. Saxon. Barnes. Hist. Edward III. Eulogium Historiarum. 



- Annals of Kilroonan. 



^ Chronic. Scotorum. Sec also the Annals of the Four Masters. 



* Annals of Kilroonan. '•> T. Short. Op. cit., vol. i. p. 117. 



* T. Short. Op. cit., vol. i. p. 119. 



' Acta Sanctor. Bolland, Jan. 2, p. 318. 



* Spangenberff. Op. cit., 258. 



^ Chronogr. Saxo. Leibnitz. Access. Hist., vol. i. p. 304. 



