We cannot say much of the toads,[2] tortoises, serpents, grasshoppers, spiders, and snails which occur in heraldry.
[2:] The legend which connects toads with the fleur-de-lys in the arms of France is too well known to need repetition here.
The Gandys of Suffolk bear a single tortoise passant, and a tortoise erected occurs on the Coopers' coat of arms.
Serpents are blazoned in terms peculiar to themselves. Thus, a serpent coiled, is said to be nowed—knotted—from the French nœud, a knot; when upright on its tail, it is erect; gliding, it is glissant also from the French; when biting its tail, it is blazoned embowed. The Falconers bear a "serpent embowed"; one Natterley has an "adder nowed"—natter is the German for adder—and Sir Thomas Couch of London charges an adder "curling and erect" upon his shield.
To the Greek, the grasshopper signified nobility; hence amongst the Athenians a golden grasshopper worn in the hair was the badge of high lineage. In later days the heralds considered the grasshopper a type of patriotism, "because in whatever soil a grasshopper is bred, in that will he live and die."
Spiders were not only held symbolical of industry, but they were highly esteemed for their supposed properties of healing.[3]
[3:] As regards the spider's curative powers, Mr. Thistleton Dyer, in his "Folklore of Shakespeare," tells us that only "a few years ago a lady in Ireland was famous for curing ague with a large house-spider swallowed alive, thickly coated with treacle."
One family of Shelleys bears three "house-snails" so termed in heraldry to imply that they carry their shells. A type of deliberation in business matters and perseverance is supposed to be furnished by the common snail.
The "creatures that live above the earth"—i.e., having wings—come next.
