Raining Fish: A Scientific Explanation from the 19th Century

The phenomenon of fish falling from the sky, often termed 'animal rain,' has puzzled observers for centuries. While it may seem to defy logic, the explanation does not involve fish forming in clouds. Instead, a compelling mechanical theory suggests that powerful atmospheric events can transport aquatic life from its natural habitat into the air, only for it to fall back to earth miles away. This report examines the explanation presented in the 1870 book 'Odd Showers: Or, An Explanation of the Rain of Insects, Fishes, and Lizards' by Carribber, which sought to demystify such occurrences through the lens of natural science^[1][1]. The book, intended for young readers, was the culmination of nearly three decades of research into unusual atmospheric phenomena^[1].

The Lifting Mechanism: Waterspouts and Whirlwinds

The central claim of the book is that showers of fish are not meteorological anomalies but are the result of powerful natural forces acting on bodies of water^[1]. The primary agents responsible for this transportation are identified as waterspouts and whirlwinds (or hurricanes)^[1]. These intense vortices possess enough power to suck up or lift a column of water from a stream, pond, or the sea, along with any fish or other small creatures residing within it^[1].

Waterspout Lifting Fish from the Ocean

An artistic depiction of a powerful waterspout forming over the ocean, its vortex drawing water and a school of small fish upwards into the storm clouds.

Once the fish are elevated, the 'propelling force and velocity of the wind' are strong enough to carry them a considerable distance, potentially many miles from their original location^[1]. The book posits that the fish are held aloft as long as the upward force of the whirlwind or waterspout is greater than the downward pull of gravity^[1]. This explains how fish can appear to 'rain' down on areas far from any significant body of water.

Historical Examples of Fish Showers

To anchor this explanation in observable events, the book provides several historical accounts. Two notable examples illustrate the specific circumstances surrounding these phenomena.

The Shower of Whitings in Kent, 1666

In 1666, near Wrotham, Kent, a pasture field was reportedly covered with small fish following a 'great tempest of thunder and rain'^[1]. The details of this event support the whirlwind theory:

The Fish Fall at Mountain Ash, 1859

A more recent account from February 11, 1859, in Mountain Ash, Glamorganshire, describes a shower of small fish that fell during a period of severe weather^[1]. This case provides further evidence for the atmospheric transport hypothesis:

The Inevitable Descent: Gravity's Role

The book emphasizes that the suspension of fish in the atmosphere is temporary. The phenomenon concludes when the energy of the lifting force dissipates. According to the author, the fish 'must soon descend by the natural laws of gravitation when the forces that elevated them were spent'^[1]. This occurs when the whirlwind weakens or moves over land, losing its source of power and moisture.

Another explanation offered is that as the column of water drawn up by the waterspout 'disseminates into vapor,' it is followed by a heavy shower of rain^[1]. The objects carried within that column, such as fish, are no longer supported and fall along with the precipitation^[1]. This process explains why the fall of fish is often, though not always, accompanied by a severe rainstorm, as was the case in both the Kent and Mountain Ash examples.

Conclusion

The explanation provided in 'Odd Showers' demystifies the rain of fish by attributing it to powerful, albeit uncommon, meteorological events rather than supernatural causes. By proposing that waterspouts and whirlwinds can lift fish from water and transport them over land, the book offers a rational framework grounded in physics. The lifting force of the vortex temporarily overcomes gravity, but once that force subsides, the transported fish inevitably fall back to earth. The historical accounts of localized fish falls during severe storms provide compelling anecdotal evidence for this theory, illustrating how seemingly impossible events can be understood through the 'well known and unerring laws of natural and physical science'^[1].

References

Odd Showers: A Victorian Examination of Strange Precipitation

Published in London in 1870, the book Odd Showers: Or, An Explanation of the Rain of Insects, Fishes, and Lizards; Soot, Sand, and Ashes; Red Rain and Snow; Meteoric Stones; and other Bodies sought to provide rational, scientific explanations for seemingly miraculous or terrifying atmospheric phenomena^[1]. Authored by Sir George Duncan Gibb under the pseudonym Carribber, the work was specifically written for a younger audience, aiming to demystify the world around them^[1][1]. The author's own curiosity was piqued in 1841 after he personally witnessed a shower of small frogs near Montreal, an event that prompted a deeper investigation into such unusual occurrences^[1]. This report summarizes the key findings and explanations presented in this Victorian-era text.

A Victorian Naturalist Observing a Strange Shower

An illustrative depiction of a 19th-century scientist, reminiscent of the book's author, observing and documenting an unusual fall of small frogs from the sky, with a journal and magnifying glass in hand. The style reflects the era's spirit of scientific inquiry.

Explaining the Rain of Living Creatures

A central focus of the book is to explain how living animals can seemingly fall from the sky. The primary mechanism proposed is the power of atmospheric disturbances like waterspouts or hurricanes. The author posits that these powerful weather events can suck up water, along with the creatures living in it, and transport them over significant distances before releasing them^[1]. This single, powerful explanation is applied to various accounts of animal rain.

From Soot to 'Blood Rain': Inorganic and Colored Showers

The book extends its scientific lens to showers of non-living matter and strangely colored precipitation, which were often sources of superstition and fear. The author systematically breaks down these events into their component parts, attributing them to geological or biological sources.

Volcanic eruptions are identified as a major source of inorganic showers. Soot and fine ashes from a volcano can be propelled high into the atmosphere, where strong air currents can carry the material for "hundreds of miles" before it falls back to earth, sometimes far from the eruption site^[1].

The particularly alarming phenomenon of "showers of blood" is also addressed. The author reassures the reader that these are not supernatural events but are simply rain or snow colored by foreign substances. The red hue can be caused by several factors, including red-colored volcanic ash known as 'puzzolana', fine particles of red vegetable matter lifted by the wind, or the reddish-brown excretions of certain butterfly species^[1][1]. By identifying these causes, the book concludes that "Showers of red rain and red snow are therefore genuine and undoubted facts, and when we know what it is that imparts to them their peculiar colour... there is nothing preternatural or marvellous about them"^[1].

Celestial Visitors: Meteoric Stones

In its final section, the book turns its attention from terrestrial sources to extraterrestrial ones, discussing the nature of meteoric stones. Moving away from atmospheric transport, the author explains the accepted scientific doctrine of the time. Meteors are defined as "cosmical bodies floating in space" that are drawn into Earth's atmosphere and fall to the surface due to the fundamental "laws of general gravity"^[1]. This explanation firmly places the phenomenon within the realm of astronomy and physics, completing the book's mission to replace superstition with scientific understanding.

Conclusion: Demystifying the Marvelous

Sir George Duncan Gibb's Odd Showers serves as a clear example of Victorian-era popular science, aiming to educate and reassure a general audience, particularly young people. The book's core insight is that even the most bizarre and seemingly inexplicable events often have logical, natural explanations. By attributing rains of animals to waterspouts, colored rain to dust and organic matter, and falling stones to cosmic gravity, the author systematically dismantles the "preternatural or marvellous"^[1]. The work champions a worldview where observation and scientific reasoning can make sense of a world that might otherwise seem chaotic and mysterious.

References

The Architectural Prowess and Paternal Devotion of the Male Stickleback

In the aquatic world, the male stickleback stands out as a remarkable example of dedicated fatherhood and intricate engineering. This small fish undertakes the full responsibility of constructing a complex nest and then tirelessly guarding its offspring, showcasing a level of paternal care that is both fascinating and complex. The male's behaviors, from gathering materials to actively parenting his young, provide a compelling study in animal instinct and adaptation.

This report details the specific processes involved in the male stickleback's nest-building and guardianship. It will explain how the nest is meticulously constructed from bottom refuse, bound together with a unique bodily secretion, and then hollowed into a functional tunnel. Furthermore, it will summarize the father's vigilant guarding behaviors, which include aerating the eggs and diligently herding any straying young back to the safety of the nest.

The Male Stickleback in Breeding Colors

An illustration of a male three-spined stickleback, showcasing its vibrant red underside and blue eyes, which are characteristic during the breeding season as it prepares to build its nest.

The Art of Nest Construction

The construction of the stickleback nest is a solo project undertaken entirely by the male. He meticulously selects a location and then begins the multi-stage process of building a safe haven for his future offspring.

Gathering and Assembling Materials

The initial phase of construction involves gathering suitable materials. The male stickleback collects refuse from the bottom of the stream or pond, including items like shreds of weed and other small bits of material^[1]. These elements are carefully gathered and formed into a small pile, which serves as the foundation and primary structure of the nest.

A Unique Binding Agent

To ensure the loose materials hold together, the male stickleback employs a remarkable biological tool: a special threadlike secretion^[1]. This adhesive substance is produced from a small pore located on the fish's under surface^[1]. The male can be observed repeatedly rubbing his body against the sides of the nest every minute or two^[1]. This action deposits delicate threads that effectively bind the collection of weeds and refuse into a cohesive and durable structure^[1].

Hollowing the Tunnel

Once the nest is securely bound, the final architectural step is to create an internal chamber. The male accomplishes this by force. He dives at the structure, butting and striking it with his body^[1]. Ultimately, he pushes his way completely through the nest, a process which hollows it out and creates a tunnel-like opening where the female can later deposit her eggs^[1].

Vigilant Paternal Guardianship

After the eggs are laid and fertilized, the male's role transitions from builder to a fierce and dedicated guardian. His focus shifts entirely to protecting the nest and ensuring the survival of the developing embryos and, later, the hatched fry.

A Stickleback Father's Vigil

A male stickleback is depicted fanning water with his fins over his carefully constructed nest, while a few tiny fry swim nearby, illustrating his dedicated parental care.

Guarding the Eggs

With the eggs secured inside the nest, the male mounts a ferocious guard^[1]. He aggressively makes onslaughts upon any and all creatures that venture too close to his precious cargo, ensuring the eggs remain safe from predators until they hatch^[1]. In addition to defense, the male performs crucial maintenance. He actively fans water over the eggs, a behavior that serves the dual purpose of keeping them well-oxygenated and preventing the growth of harmful fungus^[1].

Caring for the Young

The father's duties do not end once the eggs hatch. As the young sticklebacks emerge, he continues his protective role with unwavering diligence. If any of the young fry stray from the safety of the nest, the male takes an active role in herding them back^[1]. His method for this is extraordinary: he will carefully draw a wandering fry into his mouth, swim back to the nest, and then gently shoot it back inside to rejoin its siblings^[1].

Conclusion

The male stickleback demonstrates a sophisticated and comprehensive suite of paternal behaviors. He is not merely a guard but also a skilled architect, using materials from his environment and a unique secretion from his own body to construct a secure nursery. His subsequent guardianship is tireless, involving aggressive defense, essential egg maintenance through fanning, and the remarkable practice of retrieving stray young with his mouth. This combination of nest-building prowess and devoted parenting makes the male stickleback a profound example of the complexities of animal behavior and the diverse strategies for ensuring reproductive success in nature.

References