G^ENERAL SUMMARY. 203 



Unto me and everyone, 



But most of all mito my son ! 



Bring it unto me, I pray ! 



Do not take the least away. 



In life you were a lady, full 



Of talent good, and beautiful ; 



Let me pray, as this is true, 



You'll give my child some talent too ; 



And when you fly from East to West 



May you in turn be truly blest. 



For though an insect form you wear, 



You're still a spirit good and fair." 



When the child shall be old enough to understand 

 this, he shall repeat, whenever he sees a Gavelletta 

 (lo son giovane e vero) : — 



" I am but little, as you see, 

 And yet I may a genius be ! 

 And if when grown I shall be great, 

 And make a name in Church or State, 

 I'll not forget that one fine day, 

 As I in cradle sleeping lay, 

 How all my wit, as mother bid. 

 Was brought me by the Katydid." 



In modern Tuscany there are unmistakable traces 

 of all the ancient attributes ascribed to the Cicada, 

 i.e., prophecy {(/.ocvteio,) , art, knowledge of the future of 

 children, derived doubtless from the association in art 

 with the Tettix, and the grasshopper with Cupid. The 

 Tuscan peasantry still allude to the myth that Cicadae 

 were maids before the Muses, and that Apollo turned 

 them into insects. 



Explanations of such survivals will appear, Mr. 

 Leland informs me, in his forthcoming book on 

 ' Etrusco-Koman Remains in Tuscan Tradition,' 

 " which will contain much lore connected with the 

 ancient gods and invocations to them." 



The above traditions of the Tettix are from the 

 peasantry living in Tuscan Romagna, lying between 

 Ferli and Ravenna. 



The singular attitude of the Mantis, resting on its 

 four hind legs, with its fore legs raised, and having the 

 tibiae pressed together, suggests to the peasant the act 



