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.

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.


  PHILADELPHIA:
  J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
  1865.

  Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865,
  by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,
  In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States
  for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.


  TO
  MISS CATHARINE STOY
  THE FOLLOWING PAGES
  ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
  BY HER FRIEND,
  THE AUTHOR.




PREFACE.


In the early part of the winter of 1863-4, having the free use of the
Congressional Library at Washington, I began the compilation of the
present work. It was my prime intent, and one which I have endeavored to
follow most carefully, to attach some fact, whatever might be its
nature, to as many Insects as possible, to increase the interest, in a
commonplace way, of the science of Entomology. I noticed the pleasurable
satisfaction I invariably felt when I came accidentally upon any
extra-scientific fact, and how the association fixed the particular
Insect, to which it related, ineffaceably upon my memory. To collect and
group, then, all these facts together, to remember many Insects as
easily as one,--was a natural thought; and as this had never been done,
but to a very limited extent, I undertook it myself.

The facts contained in this volume are supposed to be purely historical,
or rather not to belong to the natural history of Insects, namely, their
anatomy, habits, classification, etc. They have been collected mostly
from Chronicles, Histories, Books of Travels, and such like works,
which, at first view, seem to be totally foreign to Insects: and were
only discovered by examination of the indexes and tables of contents.

But are my facts _facts_?--it may be asked. They are; but I do not vouch
for each one’s containing more than one truth. It is a fact, or truth if
you will, that Pliny, Nat. Hist. xi. 34, says, “Folke use to hang
Beetles about the neck of young babes, as present remedies against many
maladies;” but that this statement is entitled to credit, and that these
Insects, hung about the necks of young babes, _are_ a present remedy
against many maladies, are two things which may be very true or far
otherwise. I confine myself to the fact that Pliny says so, and only
wish to be understood in that sense, unless when otherwise stated.

The classification of Mr. Westwood, in the arrangement of the orders and
families, I have followed as closely as was possible, except in one or
two instances: and where Insects have common and familiar names, they
have been given together with their scientific ones.

To Dr. J. M. Toner, of Washington, for his suggestions and assistance in
collecting material, I tender my thanks; the same also to N. Bushnell,
Esq., and Hon. O. H. Browning, of Quincy, Ill., for the use of their
several libraries.

I am much indebted, too, to Mrs. A. L. Ruter Dufour, of Washington, for
many superstitions and two pieces of poetry contained in this volume. I
beg her to accept my thanks.

    GREENSBURG, PENNA.,
      July 10th, 1865.




CONTENTS.


  AUTHORS QUOTED                                    9


  COLEOPTERA--BEETLES.

  Coccinellidæ--Lady-birds                         17

  Chrysomelidæ--Gold-beetles                       23

  Carabidæ                                         23

  Pausidæ                                          23

  Dermestidæ--Leather-beetles                      24

  Lucanidæ--Stag-beetles                           24

  Scarabæidæ--Dung-beetles                         27

  Dynastidæ--Hercules-beetles, etc.                45

  Melolonthidæ--Cock-chafers                       47

  Cetoniidæ--Rose-chafers                          49

  Buprestidæ--Burn-cows                            50

  Elateridæ--Fire-flies, Spring-beetles, etc.      51

  Lampyridæ--Glow-worms                            55

  Ptinidæ--Death-watch, etc.                       58

  Bostrichidæ--Typographer-beetle, etc.            61

  Cantharidæ--Blister-flies                        62

  Tenebrionidæ--Meal-worms                         65

  Blapsidæ--Church-yard-beetle, etc.               65

  Curculionidæ--Weevils                            68

  Cerambycidæ--Musk-beetles                        72

  Galerucidæ--Turnip-fly, etc.                     74


  EUPLEXOPTERA.

  Forficulidæ--Ear-wigs                            76


  ORTHOPTERA.

  Blattidæ--Cockroaches                            78

  Mantidæ--Soothsayers, etc.                       82

  Achetidæ--Crickets                               92

  Gryllidæ--Grasshoppers