1896.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 79 



In Norfolk, too, where this insect is called the Bishop Barnabee, 



the young girls have the following rhyme, which they continue 



to recite to it placed upon the palm of the hand, till it takes wing 



and flies away : 



Bishop, Bishop Barnabee, 

 Tell me when my wedding be; 

 If it be to-morrow day. 

 Take your wings and fly away ! 

 Fly to the east, fly to the west, 

 Fly to him that I love best. 



Why the Lady-bird is called Bishop Barnabee, or Burnabee, 

 there is great difference of opinion. Some take it to be from 

 St. Barnabas, where festival falls in the month of June, when this 

 insect first appears; and others deem it but a corruption of the 

 Bishop-that-burneth, in allusion to its fiery color. 



So also in Scotland, the Lady-bird, which is still a great favorite 

 -with the Scottish peasantry, has been used for divining one's 

 future helpmate, as appears from a rhyme from the north of 

 Scotland, which dignifies the insect with the title of Dr. Ellison : 



Doctor, Dr. Ellison, where will I be married ? 

 East, or west, or south, or north ? 

 Take ye flight and fly away. 



It is sometimes also termed Lady Ellison, or, knighted Sir 

 Ellison; while other Scottish names of it are Mearns, Aberd, 

 The King, and King Galowa, or Calowa. Under this last title 

 of dignity there is another Scottish rhyme, which evinces also 

 the general use of this insect for the purpose of divination : 



King, King Calowa, 



Up your wings and flee awa' 



Over land and over sea; 



Tell me where my love can be. 



There is a Netherlandish tradition that to see Lady-birds fore- 

 bodes good luck; and in England it is held extremely unlucky 

 to destroy these insects. Persons kiUing them, it is thought, 

 will infallibly, within the course of the year, break a bone, or 

 meet with some other dreadful misfortune. 



In England the children are accustomed to throw the Lady- 

 bird into the air, singing at the same time : 



Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home; 

 Your house is on fire, your childrens at home, 

 All but one that digs under the stone, — 

 Ply thee home, lady-bird, ere it be gone. 



