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remarkable in the annals of freak show- ers because so many people saw it hap- pen. Many of these witnesses, who were children at the time, recall the event vividly. The day had been over- cast and thundery, when the sky opened. "It was a job to walk on the path without treading on them,” remembered one woman. The same area has seen similar incidents in the meantime. or fishes from ponds, lakes or the sea, carrying them for miles and dumping them on land. But this doesn't explain why other objects from their habitat don't fall from space with them. Perhaps a waterspout vortex, with thick cloud cover above, drops heavier mate- tials earlier on its journey? Another possibility has been pro- posed by naturalist Ian Darling, from Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. He has a report of pink frogs being lifted into the air by strong winds on the fertile edge of the Moroccan desert--which could account for pink frog falls at Stroud a few years ago, and similar falls over Europe. He claims that two or three times a year, sand from the Sahara does fall on the UK--strong winds during 1987-88 brought both frog rains and falls of red Saharan dust. The phenomenon of life forms falling from the skies is discussed in a six-part TV series, Weather Watch, shown in November/December on the BBC. It features eyewitness accounts and also poses scientific explanations for the strange showers. (A book of the same name is available, authored by Paul Simon, a science writer and BBC pro- ducer.) Saaeeieeanaeneanneel MAREN) Wane. kaw ee ducer.) ; -_ There are no doubt many cases which _ report of pink frogs being lifted into the Reports of showers of animals, living 99 ynreported--perhaps eyewitnesses _air by strong winds on the fertile edge and dead, plants and inanimate objects ignore or forget what they've seen, or of the Moroccan desert--which could are so numerous--and from all over the keep quiet for fear of ridicule. account for pink frog falls at Stroud a world--that the phenomenon is far from However, it is well-known that large few years ago, and similar falls over unusual. Showers of young frogs or numbers of small frogs can emerge Europe. He claims that two or three toads, usually alive, are the most fre- from cover after a rain shower; but, _ times a year, sand from the Sahara does quently seen, falling from the sky with while this may explain some events, it fall on the UK--strong winds during the rain. In Britain, falls of small eels, does not account for other cases in 1987-88 brought both frog rains and fish, periwinkles, snails, starfish and which, say, fish are found ona roof, or _ falls of red Saharan dust. tadpoles have been witnessed. mustard seeds and haricot beans Perhaps the Biblical plagues were One incident happened at swoosh out of the sky on successive true after all. They are similar to phe- Trowbridge, UK, in 1939, and was__ days. nomena still experienced today which reported in The Times. An open-air One likely explanation for most of | would seem to be real meteorological swimming pool became the target for _ the weird showers points to whirlwinds _ events. _ thousands of falling frogs. The event is and waterspouts which scoop up frogs (Source: Fortean Times, #65, 1992.) Perhaps the Biblical plagues were true after all. They are similar to phe- nomena still experienced today which would seem to be real meteorological avanto at NEXUS¢55 FROGS FROM SPACE! FEBRUARY-MARCH '93