Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-02
LEGENDS OF INSECTS.
WHAT POPULAR SUPERSTITION
SAYS ABOUT THE BUSY BEE.

Hindoo rr>dition-Stolen Bees in Hol-
liabilities and Fleas-Gnats, Ants and
Crickets-The Dainty Lady Bird-Divt
nation.
No members of the animal kingdom ~
regarded by most persons with greater
! aversion than certain insects and reptiles.
The folk lore Of these branches OF that
kingdom is therefore q very extensive
one. II frequently assigns TO the min
utest members of the insect tribe cons;d-
cradle power for good or evil. and popu-
lar tradition even anticipated scientific
| discovery in the matter of insect intelii-
/ 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-
/ ton of the mass The ancients gener-
/ ally maintained that there wss closs
connection between bees and the soul
Porphyry speaks of those souls which
the ancients called bees
There is Hindoo superstition that the
Rakshas or demons keep their souls in
the bodies of bees. Many persons accord
| unusual intelligence 10 bees They ara
said III parts Of England and France 10
revere the consecra,ed wafer. They are
also said to sing q Christmas hymn. be-
ginning at midnight. They are said never
TO thrive in quarrelsone family. noI
will they stay with you ii you quarrel
about them or in their presence. Ii Is
custom in many parts Of England and the
continent TO announce to the bees O death
IL the family. especially that of the mas
ter. II is said in many parts Of England
and Germany that if q swarm OF bees set
tie on the dead branch of live tree q
death viii occur in the family within y
year. Stolen bees arc said In Holland
never to thrive. In some places in Eng
land 1t Is thought unlueky TO sell them.
They are given away for another gift
Flies are sometimes regarded rs 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 tho
sun or showing themselves in warm
places, il MAY be taken as sign of hail.
cold showers Of rain or wet weather"
Eleas are not too small To enter into
dicates rain. here and in England Their
eager biting also prognosticates wet wea-
ther. These tormenting insects are not
without their benefits. according To tho
English fishermen. for they consider that
ali 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 fy about In
clouds in the suns beams; heat follows
unusual freshness. and rain is indicated
by their seeking the shade and biting
hercely. An abundance OF these insects
iii the spring foretelis II warm autumn
Since the DAYS Of Solomon the ant has
enjoyed quite reputation as a worker.
Mohammedans recognize its industry. and
accord il place among the ten animals
that alone enter Paradise without mem
tioning his authority. Emerson says. In
Mature" that they never sleep. Ants
eggs were Of old an antidote for love. lt
is said that they close their holes in the
cround'on the approach OF L storm. IL
they are unusually frisky wet weather IL
T. hand. The migration of aats from low
ground is said to indicate heavy rains. and
stormy weather IL 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 IL
30 DO generally viewed with favor. IL Is
usually regarded AZ u good omen In
England and Scotland Ia HILL il j. I'M
lucky TO kill them. and la Lancashire, it
is said, they cut holes in the worsted
stockings of those members of a family
that Kill them. In Shakespeare's time this
notion that the presence Of the cricket
was good omen. indicating cbeerfulneas
and plenty. was prevalent one
The little insect commonly known as
the lady bird or lady bug has been the OBJ
ject Of many superstitious observances.
It's name indicates it's sacred character. IL
being everywhere the Virgins bird, tho
lady cow. tho lady fly. the lady's liitle
beast, Mary's bird. Gods caif. etc. Young
girls. on finding one. try 70 divine their
lovers By il. The fight Of the insect in
dicates the direction Ia which tbs lover
is 10 be sought. German peasnnts also
try to divine from ito flight bow thry viii
fare in the next world. II. On being ap-
pcaled 70. il flies upward. they Will 20 to
heaven; if downward. 10 he'll. or II bori-
zontally. then purgat0Ty awaits the quss-
toner.
The insect known as "granddaddy long
legs" IL thought in this country 70 pos
sess some mystorioss knowle1ge. Chill
dren. on seeing It. ask 1t. "0rAnddsddy
long legs. where's my oowf" believing that
i; will indicate the proper divction by
raising one OF it's legs.
Spider supcrStitioIs arc also abundant.
They should not be killed s'panisrde. in
the Sixteenth century. believed that
spiders indicated gold, where they were
found In abundancs. Ia Germany. it -
said to indicate COED lack % haze { spider
spring bis web downwaris toward you.
but bad luck ~fsesi he rises toward you
There are said 10 be no spiders IN Ireland
nor viii spiders spin their webin an Irish
oak, nor Gu a eedar roof. S. bassctt In
Globe D1aocrat-