Curious Facts in the History of Insects; Including Spiders and Scorpions. / A Complete Collection of the Legends, Superstitions, Beliefs, and Ominous Signs Connected with Insects; Together with Their Uses in Medicine, Art, and as Food; and a Summary of Their Remarkable Injuries and Appearances.

by Frank Cowan

Tell me where my love can be.[16]

There is a Netherlandish tradition that to see Lady-birds forebodes good luck;[17] and in England it is held extremely unlucky to destroy these insects. Persons killing them, it is thought, will infallibly, within the course of the year, break a bone, or meet with some other dreadful misfortune.[18]

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 children’s at home,

All but one that ligs under the stone,—

Ply thee home, lady-bird, ere it be gone.[19]

Or, as in Yorkshire and Lancashire,—

Lady-bird, lady-bird, eigh thy way home;

Thy house is on fire, thy children all roam,