202 BRITISH CICAD.E. 



wholly thrusts out the abstract ideas connected with its 

 origination. If any object then happens to be mystic or 

 shows any charm of the supernatural, the peasant is 

 liable to retain hold of it, and thus it becomes woven 

 into his hopes and fears, and partakes also of his 

 religion. 



Mr. Charles G. Leland has investigated some of the 

 surviving beliefs of the peasantry of North Italy, and 

 the districts representing the ancient Etruria. Very 

 liberally he has put me in possession of some of the 

 facts which he has accumulated, connected with the 

 survival of the spirituality of the Cicada. He informs 

 me that the " Cicada, Grillo, locust, and grasshopper are 

 to the peasantry of modern Tuscany (Etruria) com- 

 pletely confused into one, as regards traditions. Even 

 the Italian dictionary makes them synonymous." 



" One day in the year all Florence is occupied with 

 catching, or buying and selling in small cages, the 

 Grillo or black cricket ; and the little illustrated 

 newspapers of the day are full of pictures referring to 

 it, mostly with obscene allusions, because there are 

 slang words of a phallic nature similar to the name 

 Grillo and its cage." 



The ^'CaveUetta" is a beautiful grey insect, the 

 largest of the species, with leaf-like wings. It is a 

 great favourite with the peasantry, and it is considered 

 by them to be luck-bringing. It confers wisdom, 

 aesthetic culture, poetry and song in children. Mr. 

 Leland says that the insect is known in America as 

 the "Katydid." 



When a Cavelletta enters a room where a child is 

 sleeping, the mother catches the insect, ties one leg 

 with a long thread, attaches the other end to the bed- 

 post, and chants certain verses, which Mr. Leland 

 translates as follows : — 



" Katydid, as good as fair, 

 Who brings good fortune everywhere ; 

 Since now into this house you've come, 

 bring good fortune to my home, 



