Curious Facts in the History of Insects; Including Spiders and Scorpions Part 1

Curious Facts in the History of Insects; Including Spiders and Scorpions.

by Frank Cowan.

PREFACE.

In the early part of the winter of 1863-4, having the free use of the Congressional Library at Washington, I began the compilation of the present work. It was my prime intent, and one which I have endeavored to follow most carefully, to attach some fact, whatever might be its nature, to as many Insects as possible, to increase the interest, in a commonplace way, of the science of Entomology. I noticed the pleasurable satisfaction I invariably felt when I came accidentally upon any extra-scientific fact, and how the a.s.sociation fixed the particular Insect, to which it related, ineffaceably upon my memory. To collect and group, then, all these facts together, to remember many Insects as easily as one,--was a natural thought; and as this had never been done, but to a very limited extent, I undertook it myself.

The facts contained in this volume are supposed to be purely historical, or rather not to belong to the natural history of Insects, namely, their anatomy, habits, cla.s.sification, etc. They have been collected mostly from Chronicles, Histories, Books of Travels, and such like works, which, at first view, seem to be totally foreign to Insects: and were only discovered by examination of the indexes and tables of contents.

But are my facts _facts_?--it may be asked. They are; but I do not vouch for each one's containing more than one truth. It is a fact, or truth if you will, that Pliny, Nat. Hist. xi. 34, says, "Folke use to hang Beetles about the neck of young babes, as present remedies against many maladies;" but that this statement is ent.i.tled to credit, and that these Insects, hung about the necks of young babes, _are_ a present remedy against many maladies, are two things which may be very true or far otherwise. I confine myself to the fact that Pliny says so, and only wish to be understood in that sense, unless when otherwise stated.

The cla.s.sification of Mr. Westwood, in the arrangement of the orders and families, I have followed as closely as was possible, except in one or two instances: and where Insects have common and familiar names, they have been given together with their scientific ones.

To Dr. J. M. Toner, of Washington, for his suggestions and a.s.sistance in collecting material, I tender my thanks; the same also to N. Bushnell, Esq., and Hon. O. H. Browning, of Quincy, Ill., for the use of their several libraries.

I am much indebted, too, to Mrs. A. L. Ruter Dufour, of Washington, for many superst.i.tions and two pieces of poetry contained in this volume. I beg her to accept my thanks.

GREENSBURG, PENNA., July 10th, 1865.

CURIOUS HISTORY OF INSECTS.

ORDER I.

COLEOPTERA--BEETLES.

Coccinellidae--Lady-birds.

The Lady-bird, _Coccinella septempunctata_, in Scandinavia was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and is there to this day called _Nyckelpiga_--Our Lady's Key-maid,[1] and (in Sweden, more particularly) _Jung-fru Marias Gullhona_--the Virgin Mary's Golden-hen.[2] A like reverence was paid to this beautiful insect in other countries: in Germany they have been called _Frauen_ or _Marien-kafer_--Lady-beetles of the Virgin Mary; and in France are now known by the names of _Vaches de Dieu_--Cows of the Lord, and _Betes de la Vierge_--Animals of the Virgin.[3] The names we know them by, _Lady-bird_, _Lady-bug_, _Lady-fly_, _Lady-cow_,[4]

_Lady-clock_, _Lady-couch_ (a Scottish name),[5] etc., have reference also to this same dedication, or, at least, respect.

The Lady-bird in Europe, and particularly in Germany, where it probably is the greatest favorite, and whence most of the superst.i.tions connected with it are supposed to have originated, is always connected with fine weather. At Vienna, the children throw it into the air, crying,--

Kaferl', kaferl', kaferl', Flieg nach Mariabrunn, Und bring uns a schone sun.

Or,--

Little birdie, birdie, Fly to Marybrunn, And bring us a fine sun.

Marybrun being a place about twelve English miles from the Austrian capital, with a miracle-working image of the Virgin (still connected with the Virgin), who often sends good weather to the merry Viennese.[6]

And, from the marsh of the Elbe, to this little insect the following words are addressed:

Maikatt, Flug weg, Stuff weg, Bring me morgen goet wedder med.

Or,--

May-cat, Fly away, Hasten away, Bring me good weather with you to-morrow.[7]

In England, the children are wont to be afraid of injuring the Lady-bird lest it should rain.

With the Northmen the Lady-bird--Our Lady's Key-maid--is believed to foretell to the husbandman whether the year shall be a plentiful one or the contrary: if its spots exceed seven, bread-corn will be dear; if they are fewer than seven, there will be an abundant harvest, and low prices.[8] And, in the following rhyme from Ploen, this insect is invoked to bring food:

Marspaert (Markpaert) fleeg in Himmel!

Bring my'n Sack voll Kringeln, my een, dy een, Alle lutten Engeln een.

Or,--

Marspaert, fly to heaven!

Bring me a sack full of biscuits, one for me, one for thee, For all the little angels one.[9]

In the north of Europe it is thought lucky when a young girl in the country sees the Lady-bird in the spring; she then lets it creep about her hand, and says: "She measures me for wedding gloves." And when it spreads its little wings and flies away, she is particular to notice the direction it takes, for thence her sweetheart shall one day come.[10]

The latter part of this notion obtains in England; and it has been embodied by Gay in one of his Pastorals, as follows:

This Lady-fly I take from off the gra.s.s, Whose spotted back might scarlet red surpa.s.s.

Fly, Lady-bird, north, south, or east or west, Fly where the man is found that I love best.

He leaves my hand, see to the west he's flown, To call my true-love from the faithless town.[11]

In Norfolk, too, where this insect is called the Bishop Barnabee, the young girls have the following rhyme, which they continue to recite to it placed upon the palm of the hand, till it takes wing and flies away:[12]

Bishop, Bishop Barnabee, Tell me when my wedding be: If it be to-morrow day, Take your wings and fly away!

Fly to the east, fly to the west, Fly to him that I love best.[13]

Why the Lady-bird is called Bishop Barnabee, or Burnabee, there is great difference of opinion. Some take it to be from St. Barnabas, whose festival falls in the month of June, when this insect first appears; and others deem it but a corruption of the Bishop-that-burneth, in allusion to its fiery color.[14]

The following metrical jargon is repeated by the children in Scotland to this insect under the name of Lady Lanners, or Landers:[15]

Lady, Lady Lanners, Lady, Lady Lanners, Tak' up your clowk about your head, An' flee awa' to Flanners (Flanders).

Flee ower firth, and flee ower fell, Flee ower pule and rinnan' well, Flee ower muir, and flee ower mead, Flee ower livan, flee ower dead, Flee ower corn, and flee ower lea, Flee ower river, flee ower sea, Flee ye east, or flee ye west, Flee till him that lo'es me best.

So it seems that also in Scotland, the Lady-bird, which is still a great favorite with the Scottish peasantry, has been used for divining one's future helpmate. This likewise appears from a rhyme from the north of Scotland, which dignifies the insect with the t.i.tle of Dr. Ellison:

Dr. Dr. Ellison, where will I be married?

East, or west, or south, or north?

Take ye flight and fly away.

It is sometimes also termed Lady Ellison, or knighted Sir Ellison; while other Scottish names of it are Mearns, Aberd, The King, and King Galowa, or Calowa. Under this last t.i.tle of dignity there is another Scottish rhyme, which evinces also the general use of this insect for the purpose of divination:

King, King Calowa, Up your wings and flee awa'

Over land, and over sea; Tell me where my love can be.[16]