244 Bonney— Modern Volcanoes in Central France. 
Again, there were earthquakes and parhelia in 470. 
Gregorius of Tours, speaking of the institution of Rogation Days 
by Mamertus, states that earthquakes were frequent at Vienne, 
that stags and wolves wandered about the city, and that the palace 
caught fire at Easter. G. T. Hist. Franc. ii. 34 (H. F.S.i. p. 289). 
He also (Id. p. 282) mentions another earthquake about the time of the 
death of Eoricus (King of the Goths); and in the fifth year of Chil- 
debert, A.D. 516, he describes a great flood in Auvergne, caused by 
twelve days’ incessant rain, and an earthquake which was felt over 
the east and south of France. Tom. v. c. 34 (Id. p. 343). 
In the ‘Gesta Regum Francorum,’ and the parallel ‘ Historia 
Francorum,’ an earthquake and an incursion of beasts are men- 
tioned in connection with the institution of Rogation Days (Id. pp. 708, 
704); and in the ‘ Gesta Francorum Roriconis Monachi’ /p. 811), we 
find an account closely corresponding with that in Gregorius of 
Tours. 
From the above passages there seems a general consensus as to the 
occurrence of two phenomena,—earthquakes, and the entry of deer 
and other wild animals into the town. The former of these, as is 
well known, is common during volcanic eruptions ; and the latter is 
recorded to have happened during the eruption of Coseguina in 
1835 (Lyell’s ‘ Principles,’ p. 349, 9th edit.). The reference to the 
emission of flames and the ejection of ashes is certainly less distinct ; 
but it is difficult to attach any other meaning to the words. It is 
indeed true that some take eulmen to mean ‘ roof,’ and translate the 
passage in Sidonius thus—‘ fires . . . heaped up the fallen ridges of 
the roofs with a piled-up mountain of ashes.’ But though Sidonius 
is inclined to bombast, he scarcely seems equal to a flight like this, 
nor would he be likely to introduce a lesser between two greater 
prodigies. In the parallel passage in Avitus, the reference to Isaiah 
ii. 10, 19, 21, and Luke xxiii. 30, appears too clear to allow any other 
meaning than ‘mountain-top’ to be assigned to culmen. It then 
seems highly probable, so far as the historical evidence goes, that 
there were volcanic outbursts in Central France about the middle of 
the fifth century. 
One difficulty, however, must be noticed in conclusion; namely, 
that of assigning the site of these voleanic eruptions. ‘The moun- 
tains of Auvergne are too distant; as are most of those of Ardéche. 
It is, however, possible that one or two of the outliers of the latter, 
or some of the isolated vents about the upper part of the Loire, 
might be visible from the neighbourhood of Vienne; and it would 
be a useful episode in a visit to the Katakekaumene of Europe, to 
explore carefully the region between the Loire and the Rhone, in 
order to ascertain whether the meaning which, in the absence of 
direct negative evidence, certainly appears to be the most natural, is 
really the one which these old writers intended to be attached to their 
words. 
