CURIOUS HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



ORDER I. 



COLEOPTERA-BEETLES. 



Coccinellidae — Lady-birds. 



The Lady-bircl, Coccinella septempunctata, in Scandi- 

 navia was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and is there to 

 this day called Nyckelpiga — Our Lady's Key-maid/ and 

 (in Sweden, more particularly) Jung-fru Marias Gullhona 

 — the Virgin Mary's Golden-hen. ^ A like reverence was 

 paid to this beautiful insect in other countries : in Germany 

 they have been called Frauen or Marien-kdfer — 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.^ The names 

 we know them by. Lady-bird, Lady-bug, Lady-fly, Lady- 

 i cow,^ Lady-clock, Lady-couch (a Scottish name),^ etc., 

 1 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 superstitions connected with it are supposed to have 



originated, is always connected with fine weather. At 



Vienna, the children throw it into the air, crying, — 



1 Thorpe's Northern Mythol., ii. 104. # 



2 Jamieson'8 Scot. Diet. Another designation, in Sweden, is not 

 so honoi'able, for it is that of Laettfaerdig kona, the Wanton Quean. — 

 Ibid. The term Lady-bird, in England, has been also applied to a 

 prostitute. — Wright's Provinc. Diet. 



3 Jaeger, Life of Amer. Ins., p. 22. 



* It is curious to notice the association of this insect with the 

 cow in the English and French names. 

 6 Jamieson's Scot. Diet. 



3 (H) 



