Back then people also had weird theories about migratory birds. They thought swallows hibernated in the ground at the bottom of rivers and lakes during winter. Then later they theorized that birds migrated to the moon during winter. It wasn’t till the early 19th century that they had evidence of migration. German villagers in 1822 shot down a stork that was impaled by a spear made out of African wood which was imbedded in the bird.
My favourite is the belief that goose-necked barnacles grew into geese.
The idea was started by the Norman scholar Giraldus Cambrensis in the 12th century when he visited Ireland, and was very popular because it meant that the monks who were required to fast and eat only fish during Lent could eat geese. Technically if they lived part of their life underwater, they must be fish.
And here I am just excited that Lemmings look like that. I don’t think I managed to look one up in my years.
Historian Ole Worm knows what’s up. it’s lemmings
I mean, if a tornado or waterspout sucked up a bunch of lemmings, they could rain from the sky like frogs or fish do. It wouldn’t be common, but it’s possible.
