294 MUSCID.^ — FLIES. 



Lokc, the deceiver of tlie gods, is faljled in the Xorthern 

 Mythology, to have metamorphosed himself into a Fly: 

 and demons, in the shape of Fhes, were kept imprisoned 

 by the Finlanders, to be let loose on men and beasts.^ 



In Scotland, a tutelary Fly, believed immortal, presided 

 over a fountain in the county of Banff: and here also a 

 large blue Fly, resting on the bark of trees, was distin- 

 guished as a witch.2 



Among the games and plays of the ancient Greeks was 

 the XaA/.r^ Mola, or Brazen Fly : — a variety of blind-man's- 

 buff, in which a boy having his eyes bound with a fillet, 

 went groping round, calling out, "I am seeking the Brazen 

 Fly." His companions replied, " You may seek, but you 

 will not find it" — at the same time striking him with cords 

 made of the inner bark of the papyros ; and thus they pro- 

 ceeded till one of them was taken.^ 



This is most probably an allusion to some species of Fly 

 of a bronze color which is most difficult to catch, as, for 

 instance, the little fly found in summer beneath arbors, ap- 

 parently standing motionless in the air. 



Petrus Ramus tells us of an iron Fly, made by Regio- 

 montanus, a famous mathematician of Nuremberg, which, 

 at a feast, to which he had invited his familiar friends, flew 

 forth from his hand, and taking a round, returned to his 

 hand again, to the great astonishment of the beholders. 

 Du Bartas thus expresses this : 



Once as this artist, more with mirth than meat, 



Feasted some friends whom he esteemed great, 



Forth from his hand an iron Fly flew out; 



Which having flown a perfect round-about, 



With weary wings return'd unto her master: 



And as judicious on his arm he plac'd her. 



0! wit divine, that in the narrow womb 



Of a small fly, could find sufficient room 



For all those springs, wheels, counterpoise and chains, 



Which stood instead of life, and blood, and veins !* 



We find also in a work bearing the title " Apologie pour 

 les Grands Homines Accuses de Magie," that "Jean de 

 Montro3^al presented to the Emperor Charles Y. an iron 



1 Dalyell's Darker Superst. of Scotland, p 562. Edinbgh. 1834. 



2 I hid. 



3 St. Johri's Man. and Cust. of Anct. Grec, i. 150. 

 * Wanley's Wonders, i. 377. 



