CURIOUS HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



ORDER I. 



COLEOPTERA-BEETLES. 



CoccinellidaB — Lady-birds. 



The Lady-bird, Coccinella sepfempunctafa, 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 MarA-'s Golden-hen.^ A like reverence was 

 paid to this beautiful insect in other countries : in Germany 

 they have been called Frauen or Marien-kafer — 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-fiy, Lady- 

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

 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's Scot. Diet. Another designation, in Sweden, is not 

 so honorable, 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. 



^ 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, 

 s Jamieson's Scot. Diet. 



3 (IT) 



