OF NATURAL HISTORY. 303 



that the pretended drops of blood were, in reality, drops of a red 

 liquor depofited by butterflies. 



To the fame caufe M. de Peirefc attributes fome other fhowers of 

 blood related by hiftorians; and it is wo.rthy of remark, that all of 

 them are faid to have happened in the warm feafons of the year, 

 when butterflies are moft numerous. Among others, Gregory of 

 Tours mentions a fhower of blood which fell, in the time of Childe- 

 bert, in different parts of Paris, and upon a certain houfe in the ter- 

 ritory of Senlis ; and, about the end of the month of June, another 

 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 poflefliion, 

 voided at leaft 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 excrement. This 

 fpecies of caterpillar, in particular years, is fo numerous, that it lays 

 bare the whole trees in certain diftridts. Myriads of them are tranf- 

 formed into chryfalids about the end of May or beginning of June. 

 When about to undergo their metamorphofis, they often attach 

 themfelves to the walls, and even enter into the country houfes. If 

 thefe butterflies were all brought forth at the fame time, and flew In 

 the fame diredion, their number would be fufncient to form fmall 

 clouds, to cover the fliones, &c. of particular diflirldts with blood- 

 coloured fpots, and to convince thofe who wifli to fright themfelves, 

 and to fee prodigies, that a fhower of blood had fallen during the 



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