Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-11-01
LEGENDS OF INSECTS.
WHAT POPULAR SUPERSTITION
SAYS ABOUT THE BUSY BEE.

Hindoo Tradition-Stolen Bees in Hol-
land-Flies and Fleas-Gnats, Ants and
| Crickets-The Dainty Lady Bird-Divi-
| nation.
| No members of the animal kingdom are
regarded by most persons with greater
| aversion than certain insects and reptiles.
| The folk lore of these branches of that
| kingdom is therefore a very extensive
one. 1t frequently assigns to the min-
| utest members of the insect tribe consid-
| erable power for good or evil, and popu-
lar tradition even anticipated scientific
| discovery in the matter OF insect intelli-
| gence.
Popular superstition has concerned
itself much about that busy little insect,
the bee. A Welsh tradition says bees
came from paradise, leaving the garden
when man fell, but with Gods blessing,
so that wax is necessary in the celebra-
tion of the mass. The ancients gener-
ally maintained that there was q close
connection between bees and the soul.
Porphyry speaks of ''those souls which
the ancients called bees"
There is a Hindoo superstition that the
Rakshas or demons keep their souls in
the bodies of bees. Many persons accord
unusual intelligence to bees. They are
said in parts of England and France. to
revere the consecrated wafer. They are
also said to sing Christmas hymn, be-
ginning at midnight. They are said never
to thrive in guarrelsome family, nor
will they stay with you if you quarrel
about them or in their presence. 1t is a
custom in many parts of England and the
continent to announce to the bees death
in the family, especially that of the mas
ter. 1t is said in many parts of England
and Germany that if swarm of bees set
tie on the dead branch of a live tree a
death will occur in the family within a
year. Stolen bees are said in Holland
land it is thought unlucky to sell them.
They are given away for another gift.
Flies are sometimes regarded as fur
nishing representations of the weather,
and even of other events. Wilsford, an
old naturalist. who writes much of popu-
lar import, says: "If they are buster or
binder than ordinary, sporting in the
sun or showing themselves in warm
places, it may be taken as o sign of hail,
cold showers of rain or wet weather."
Fleas are not too small to enter into
popular lore. An abundance of them in
dicates rain, here and in England. Their
eager biting also prognosticates wet wea-
; ther. These tor1nenting insects are not
without their benefits, according to the
English fishermen, for they consider that
an abundance of them indicates good
hauls of fish
Gnats are regarded by many as accurate
weather indicators. Fair weather is said
to be coming when they fly abou: in
clouds in the suns beams; heat follows
unusual friskiness, and rain is indicated
by their seeking the shade and biting
fercely. An abundance of these insects
in the spring foretells q warm autumn.
Since the days Of Solomon the ant has
enjoyed quite reputation as q worker.
Mohammedans recognize it's industry, and
accord it place among the ten animals
that alone enter Paradise Without men,
tioning his authority, Emerson says, in
Mature, " that they never sleep. Ants
eggs were of old an antidote for love. 1t
is said that they close their holes in the
ground on the approach of q storm. If
they are unusually frisky wet weather is
at hand. The migration of ants from low
ground is said to indicate heavy rains, and
stormy weather is imminent when they
travel in lines, fair weather coming when
they scatter abroad
Superstition has been very busy with
that common household insect, the cricket.
Its lively and cheerful chirp has caused it
to be generally viewed with favor 1t is
usually regarded as a good omen in
England and Scotland. In Hull it is un-
lucky to kill them, and in Lancashire, it |
is said, they cut holes in the worsted |
stockings of those members of family |
that kill them. In Shakespeare's time this |
notion that the presence of the cricket |
was good omen, indicating cheerfulness |
and plenty, was prevalent one.
The little insect commonly known as
the lady bird or lady bug has been the OBJ
lect OF many superstitious observances.
Its name indicates it's sacred character, it |
being everywhere the Virgins bird, the
ady cow, the lady fly. the lady's little
beast, Mary's bird, Gods calf, etc. Young
girls, on finding one, Try to divine their
overs by it. The fight of the insect in
licates the direction in which the lover
S to be sought. German peasants also
,ry to divine from its fight how they will
fare in the next world. If, on being ap-
oealed to, it flies upward, they will 90 to
heaven; if downward, to hell, or if hori-
'ontally, then purgatory awaits the ques-
ioner.
The insect known as "granddaddy long
egs" is thought in this country to pos
ess some mysterious knowledge. Chill
lren, on seeing it, ask it, "Granddaddy
ong legs, where's my cow?" believing that
will indicate the proper direction by
aising one of it's legs.
Spider superstitions are also abundant
hey should not be killed. Spaniards, in
he Sixteenth century, believed that
piders indicated gold, where they were
ound in abundance. IN Germany, it is
aid to indicate good luck to have spider
pring his web downwards toward you,
ut bad luck when he rises toward you.
here are said to be no spiders in Ireland,
or will spiders spin their web in an Irish
ak, nor ON a cedar roof.-F. S. Bassett in |
lobe Democrat