VAnii MECUM. 



ccU-brutcd I'ierosc, at Aix, in Provence, where a shower of 

 this kiud fell in 1C08. The common jjeojjle were terrified 

 with the ap])rehension of some great general calamity ; hnt 

 that intelligent naturalist, enquiring into the affair with 

 minute attention, was fully convinced that these drops were 

 scattered by an innumerable swarm of the f'anessa C. /Illmm, 

 hovering in the air ; he preserved several of the caterjjillars 

 of this insect in a glass, which after their transformation 

 discharged these drops of blood. This discovery rained two 

 hypotheses, whicli had been supported with equal ability- 

 one, that it was tlie work of evil spirits ; the other, that these 

 drops were formed from red exhalations precipitated again 

 in rain.* 



The same notion was also entertained by Swammcrdam, 

 though he does not appear to have verified it from liis own 

 observation. 



" Some people," says Pliny, "think the appearance of the 

 Buttei-fly the surest sign of spring, on account of the delicacy 

 of the animal." And certainly these insects may generally 

 be regarded a.s precursors of fine weather. The elegant 

 brimstone Butteifly, Ooneptcryx li/iamni, asnally bursts from 

 its chrysalis in March, and is the herald of the whole tribe; 

 this is succeeded by the large and small tortoise-.shell / 'u/iessiis 

 Poli/c/iloros and Urtica; ; and in the following month, among 

 many others, by Pontia Urnsslca; the large white cabbage 

 Butterfly, which has ever been regarded as an index of 

 settled .skies, and a symbol of summer. 



One of the superstitions prevailing among the lower classes 

 in Devonshire is, that imy individual neglecting to kill the 

 first Butterfly he sees in the year, will have ill luck through- 

 out it. The Dorset Chronicle recently ftimished a ludicrous 



• Avclin Miiiiculu Inscctonnii, dm. /laid. vul. iii. p. SCO. 



