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markable, and no doubt rare there, is the extent of ground over 
which the pollen fell, and the quantity of it that was deposited.* 
It is worthy of notice, that this year the flowering of all our plants 
has been astonishingly abundant. This circumstance may account 
for the quantity ; and the rareness of the phenomenon may be owing 
to the circumstances essential to its taking place seldom coming to- 
gether, such as the incident of a thunder-storm with rain just at the 
time that the pollen is ripe for dispersion. 
In the annals of the dark ages showers are recorded of a singular 
kind : in those of Ireland, for instance, as detailed in the last valu- 
able census of that country, mention is made of those “ of blood,” 
of “ a butter-like substance,” &c. ; and, analagous to that in Inver- 
ness-shire, “ of a shower of a yellowish substance which resembled 
brimstone.” This last mentioned is recorded as having “ fallen in 
and about the town of Doneraile,” in 1748. 
In conclusion, I would beg to observe, that I have been particular 
in the account of this pollen shower, with the hope of showing that 
an occurrence vaguely reported, assuming, from the manner in which 
it has been described by eye witnesses, a* perplexing and mysterious 
character, when examined with the smallest aids afforded by science, 
loses those qualities, and appears perfectly natural. And, I would 
add, can it be doubted, that had other showers, such as the reported 
ones of blood, &c., been in the same manner investigated, the result 
would have been similar ; and in the place of a marvel, we should 
have had recorded an interesting, and it may have been an in- 
structive fact. Such phenomena might perhaps, in particular 
cases, serve a part to the naturalist akin to that of coins and other 
remains of art to the antiquarian, and lead to inferences in the 
science of the former hardly less certain and valuable than those 
derivable from the latter in civil history. I venture to give an in- 
stance in illustration. After finding the substance in question the 
pollen of the fir, it occurred to me as probable that the fir might be 
common in that part of Ireland where, according to the annals, the 
shower of a yellow substance resembling sulphur fell ; and I learn 
* The names of the places given in the newspapers where the pollen was 
observed denote, it will probably be admitted, the great extent of surface 
over which the shower spread. Craigton Cottage and Kilmuir are, I am in- 
formed, two miles from Inverness, about eighteen miles from Freeburn, and 
Kilmuir is about forty-four miles from Kingussie ; that is by the mail-road, 
but no more than thirty-three in a straight line due south. 
