PAPILIONID^E — BUTTERFLIES. 220 



over to the Greeks and Romans, who also considered the 

 Butterfly as the symbol of Zephyr.^ 



Among the coats of arms of several of our most celebra- 

 ted tribes of Indians, Baron Lahontan mentions one, that 

 of the "Illinese," which bore a beech-leaf with a Butterfly 

 argent.''^ 



The sight of a trio of Butterflies is considered an omen 

 of death. ^ An English superstition. 



If a Butterfly enters a house, a death is sure to follow 

 shortly in the family occupying it; if it enters through the 

 window, the death will be that of an infant or very young 

 person. As far as I know this superstition is peculiar to 

 Maryland. 



If a Butterfly alights upon your head, it foretells good 

 news from a distance. This superstition obtains in Penn- 

 sylvania and Maryland. 



The first Butterfly seen in the summer brings good luck 

 to him who catches it. This notion prevails in New York. 



In Western Pennsylvania, it is believed that if the chrysa- 

 lides of Butterflies be found suspended mostly on the under 

 sides of rails, limbs, etc., as it were to protect them from 

 rain, that there will soon be much rain, or, as it is termed, a 

 "rainy spell"; but, on the contrary, if they are found on 

 twigs and slender branches, that the weather will be dry and 

 clear. 



Du Halde and Grosier tell us that the Butterflies of the 

 mountain of Lo-few-shan, in the province of Quang-tong, 

 China, are so much esteemed for their size and beauty, that 

 they are sent to court, where they become a part of certain 

 ornaments in the palaces. The wings of these Butterflies 

 are very large, and their colors surprisingly diversified and 

 lively.^ Dionysius Kao, a native of China, also remarks, in 

 his Geographical Description of that Empire, that, the But- 

 terflies of Quang-tong are generally sent to the emperor, as 

 they form a part of the furniture of the imperial cabinets.^ 



Osbeck says the Chinese put up insects in boxes made 

 of coarse wood, without covering, and lined with paper, 



1 Fosbroke, Encyd. of Antiq., ii. 738. 



2 Travels. He doubtless refers to an Indian totem. 

 ^ N. and Q., iii. 4. 



4 Du Halde, China, p. 21-2 ; Grosier's China, i. 570 ; Williams' 

 Mid. Kingd., i. 273; Astley's Col. of Voy. and Trav., iv. 512. 



5 Harris's Col. of Voy. and Trav., ii. 987. 



