The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-23
LEGENDS OF INSECTS.
WHAT POPULAR SUPERSTITION
SAYS ABOUT THE BUSY BEE,

land-Flies and Tieas- Cna.s, Ants and
CricIets-Tbe Dainty Lady BirJ-D,vi-
nation.
No members Of the animal kingdom arc
regarded by most persons with greater
aversion than certain insects and reptiles.
The folk lore of these branches Of that
kingdom is therefore very extensive
one. 1t frequently assigns to the min
utcst membcrs Of the insect tribe ccIs.d
cradle power for good or evil, ard ronu.
lar tradition even anticipated scientific
discovery ia !Ee r...ter 50 insect iufelli-
gc.re.
Popular superstition has concerned
itself much about that busy little insect,
the bee. 4 Welsh tradition says bees
came from paradise, leaving the garden
when man fell, but with Gods blessing,
so that wax is necessary in the cclebra-
ton of the mass. The ancicnts yener-
ally maintained that there was a close
connection between bees and the soul
Porphyry speaks of those souls which
the ancients called bees"
There Is llindoo superstition that the
Rakshas or demons keep their solls in
the bodies of bees. Many persons accord
unus Ial intelligence TO bees They are
said IN parts Of England and France TO
revere the consecrated wafer They are
also said to sing a Christmas hymn be.
ginning at midnight. They arc sal never
70 thrive in guaSelsomo family. nor
will hey stay with you ii you quarrel
about thcm or in their presence. Il is q
custom in many parts Of England and the
continent TO announce To the bees y death
in the family, especially that of iho mas
ter 1t Is SAID IN many parts az England
and Germany that if a. sVor.l of Bees set
tie on the dead branch Of live tree o
death will occur in the family within @
year. stolen bees are said in Holland
never IL thrive. In sor7c places in Eng
land it is thought unluclly TO sell them
They are given away for another gift
Flies are sometimes regarded as fur
nishinG representations 81 the weather
and even Of other events Wilsford. an
old naturalist, who writes much Of p0pu
lar import, says: IF they are busicr OK
binder than ordinary. sporting in the
sun OR showing themselves IN warm
places, 1t may be taken as n 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 woa-
ther. These tormcnting insects are not
without their benefits, according 10 the
English fishermen, for thcy consider that
an abundance Of thcm indicates rood
hauls of fish
Gnats are REGARDED hv r,auva- accurate
weather Indicators. Fnir weather is said
to be coming when they i, 49,. "a
clouds in tn suns beams, heat follows
unusual freshness. and rain is indicated
by their seeking the shade I'D bling
ferccly An abundance Of thee Insects
in the spring forc,ells warm eulumn.
Since the DAYS # Solomon th. ant has
enjoyed quito q reputation rs worker
'iohammcdau1 recognize its industry. and
accord IL place among ,hc ten animals
that alone enter Paradise Wite.t mon
tionirr bis authority Emerson saws ia
Mature. " that tbcv never sl.an Ants
cgcs were Of old an outidota for lave h
is said the, thev close tLoir holes in tLo
orornd ON fha srrroocb of o storm n
thev are unusuailv frisl,v w.t u-eath or l.
at hand The micration Of ants fro.. low
Ground is said 10 indicate beoyy rains, and
Stormy weather Is hnpinonr when tLov
travel in lines. fair weather c.r.ins wlen
;aey scatter abroad
Superstition has been verv busy with
that common household insect thcc,iel,cf.
H. lively and cheerful cilirp has caused it
10 be cenorallv y;o,red with favor II il
usually REGARDED As a coed omen in
FncIand and ..otl,nd r. EuIl il nm
Ircfv 70 Kin tber and IN Lancashire II
Is said thew eat holes in the wcrstcd
,tockincs If tboso r,enbers Of q family
hat kin them In Shakesnearo' tine tLis
notion tbat.tho nrcscnce Of the cricket
was n rood omen indicating cheerfulness
md nleptv wa q preyaleut one.
The lttlo insect commonly known "a
he lady bird or ladv bug las been the ob.
ect If nanv snncrsfitions observonces.
is namc indicates it's sacred character. il
,oinr overvwbere the Virgins bird the
adv COW. the lady ny. tie lady's little