§0^ trtE PHILOSOPHlr 



tf Senlls ; and, about the end of the month of June, anoth- 

 er likewife fell under the reign of King Robert. 



M. de Reaumur remarks, that almoft all the butterflies 

 which proceeded from different fpecies of hairy caterpillars 

 in his pofTeflion, voided at leafl: one, and often feveral large 

 drops of excrement, which had the colour of blood. The 

 hairy caterpillar that feeds upon the leaves of the elm-tree, 

 after its transformation, emits drops, the colour of which is of 

 a more deep red than that of blood ; and, after being dried, 

 their colour approaches to that of carmine. From another 

 caterpillar of the elm, which is larger, and much more com- 

 mon than the former, proceeds a butterfly, that, immediately 

 after its transformation, emits a great quantity of red excre- 

 ment. This fpecies of caterpillar, in particular years, is fo 

 humerous, that it lays bare the whole trees in certain difl:ri6\s. 

 Myriads of them are transformed into chryfalids about the 

 end of May or beginning of June. "When about to undergd 

 their metamorphofis, they often attach themfelves to the 

 walls, and even enter into the cduntry houfes. If thefe but- 

 terflies were all brought forth at the fame time, and flew in 

 the fame diredtion, tkeir number would be fufliclent to 

 form fmall clouds, to cover the fl:ones, &c. of particular dif- 

 trifts with blood-coloured fpots, and to convince thofe who 

 wifh to fright themfelves, and to fee prodigies, that a fhower 

 of blood had fallen during the night. Some of thofe hairy 

 caterpillars which live in foclety upon nettles, likewife emit 

 an excrementltious matter of a red colour. A thoufand ex- 

 amples of the fame kind might be enumerated. Hence the 

 notion of miraculous or portentous fliowers of blood fhould 

 be forever baniflied from the minds of men. 



I would not have faid fo much upon this fubje^l, if I had 

 not confldered it to be the duty of every man, when it is in 

 his power, to remove popular prejudices, efpecially when 



