Blood-rain

Blood-rain, which doubtless has its origin in the up-rushing currents of waterspouts and whirlwinds, has frequently fallen in Italy and Southern Europe, and has been repeatedly traced, through the microscope and chemical test, to the sandy deserts of Northern Africa adjoining. Similar rains have fallen in the Canaries, and they may be likewise ascribed to the African desert to the eastward. In these cases the origin is the rainless whirlwinds of these arid deserts, which are locally called 'devils.'