peculiar presages of their deaths; amongst others are the Howling of Dogs.

66

Capitolinus tells us that the Dogs by their Howling presaged the death of Maximinus.

"Pausanias (in Messe) relates that before the destruction of the Messenians, the Dogs brake out into a more fierce howling than ordinary ειδέρα τη κραυγή χρώμενοι: and we read in Fincelius that, in the year 1553, some weeks before the overthrow of the Saxons, the Dogs in Mysinia flocked together, and used strange howlings, in the woods and fields. The like howling is observed by Virgil, presaging the Roman calamities in the Pharsalick

war:

'Obscænique canes, importunæque Volucres Signa dabant.'

"So Lucan to the same purpose: 'flebile sævi latravere canes:' and Statius, 'Nocturnique Cænum gemitus." "

To one inquiring in the "British Apollo," fol. Lond. 1708, vol. i. No. 26, "Whether the Dogs Howling may be a fatal prognostic, or no;" it is answered, "we cannot determine, but 'tis probable that out of a sense of sorrow for the sickness or absence of his master, or the like, that creature may be so disturbed."

In the Memoirs of Mr. Duncan Campbell," we read, p. 76: "I have some little faith in the Howling of a Dog, when it does not proceed from hunger, blows, or confinement. As odd and unaccountable as it may seem, those animals scent death, even before it seizes a person."

Mr. Douce's Notes say, "It was formerly believed that Dogs saw the ghosts of deceased persons. In the "Odyssey," b. xvi., the Dogs of Eumæus are described as terrified at the sight of Minerva, though she was then invisible to Telemachus. The Howling of Dogs has generally been accounted a sign of approaching death."

66

Armstrong, in his "History of the Island of We have so many Minorca," p. 158, says: owls, that we are everywhere entertained with their note all night long.

'Solaque culminibus ferali carmine Bubo Visa queri, & longas in fletum ducere

noctes.'

Virg. Æn. iv. 1. 462.

The ass usually joins in the melody, and when the moon is about the full, the Dog likewise intrudes himself as a performer in the concert, making night hideous."

The Cat sneezing appears to have been considered as a lucky omen to a bride who was to be married the next day. (3)

In Southey's Travels in Spain," we read, "The old woman promised him a fine day to-morrow, because the Cat's skin looked bright."

It was a vulgar notion that Cats, when hungry, would eat coals. In the "Tamer tamed, or Woman's Pride," Izamo says to Moroso,

"I'd learn to eat coals with an hungry Cat :" and, in "Bonduca," the first daughter says, "They are cowards: eat coals like compell'd Cats."

Rats gnawing the hangings of a room, says Grose, is reckoned the forerunner of a death in the family. He mentions also the following to the like purport: "If the neck of a child remains flexible for several hours after its decease, it portends that some person in that house will die in a short time."

Melton, in his "Astrologaster," p. 45, tells us, "21. That it is a great signe of ill lucke if rats gnaw a man's cloathes."

Burton, in his "Anatomy of Melancholy,"

edit. 4to. 1621, p. 214, says, "There is a feare, which is commonly caused by prodigies and dismal accidents, which much troubles many of us, as if a MOUSE gnaw our clothes." (*)

Willsford, in his "Nature's Secrets," p. 134, says, " BATS, or flying Mice, coming out of their holesquickly after sunset, and sporting themselves in the open air, premonstrates fair and calm weather."

"Felium peregrinarum Egressum, Ingressum."-" Ex Felis vel Cauis transcursu qui inauspicati habebantur." Casaubonus, p. 341, ad Theophrasti Characteres. Fabricii Bibliogr. Antiq. p. 421, edit. 1716.

(2) Herrick, in his "Hesperides," p. 155, mentions

"True calendars, as Pusses eare

Wash't o're to tell what change is neare." Gaule, in his "Mag-astromancers posed and puzzel'd," p. 181, ranks "The Cats licking themselves" among "Vain Observations and Superstitious Ominations thereupon."

In Willsford's "Nature's Secrets," &c., Svo. Lond. 1658, p. 131, speaking of the weather's prediction, he says, "Cats coveting the fire more than ordinary, or licking their feet and trimming the hair of their heads and mustachios, presages rainy weather."

Mr. Park's Notes in his copy of Bourne and Brand's "Popular Antiquities," p. 92, say, "Cats sitting with their tails to the fire, or washing with their paws behind their ears, are said to foretell change of weather."

In the Supplement to the "Athenian Oracle," p. 474, we are told: "When Cats comb themselves (as we speak) 'tis a sign of rain; because the moisture which is in the air before the rain, insinuating itself into the fur of this animal, moves her to smooth the same and cover her body with it, that so she may the less feel the inconvenience of winter; as, on the contrary, she opens her fur in summer that she may the better receive the re

freshing of the moist season.' It is added, "The crying of Cats, Ospreys, Ravens, and other birds, upon the tops of houses, in the night time, are observed by the vulgar to presignify death to the sick."

(3) "Felis sternutans. Crastina nupturæ lux est prosperrima Sponsæ :

Felix fele bonum sternuit Omen Amor."

Roberti Keuchenii Crepundia, p. 413. (4) Cicero, in his Second Book on Divination, § 27, observes: "Nos autem ita leves, atque inconsiderati sumus, ut, si Mures corroserint aliquid, quorum est opus hoc unum, monstrum putemus? Ante vero Marsicum bellum quod Clypeos Lanuvii-mures rosissent, maxumum id portentum haruspices esse dixerunt. Quasi vero quicquam intersit, mures, diem noctem aliquid rodentes, scuta an cribra corroserint. Nam si ista sequimur ; quod Platonis Politian nuper apud me mures corroserint, de Republica debui pertimescere: aut, si Epicuri de Voluptate Liber corrosus esset, putarem Annonam in macello cariorem fore."

"Cum Vestis a soricibus roditur, plus timere suspicionem futuri mali, quam præsens damnum dolere. Unde illud eleganter dictum est Catonis, qui cum esset consultus a quodam, qui sibi erosas esse Caligas diceret a Soricibus respondit, non esse illud monstrum; sed verè monstrum habendum fuisse, si Sorices a Caligis roderentur." Delrio, Disquisit. Magic. p. 473.

H 2

In Pet. Molinæi "Vates," p. 155, we read: "Apud Romanos Soricis vox audita, turbabat Comitia. Domitores Orbis ex stridore Muris pendebant. Valerius Maximus, lib. i. cap. 3, hæc habet. Occentus soricis auditus, Fabio

Maximo Dictaturam, Caio Flaminio Magisterium, Equitum deponendi causam præbuit:" and again, p. 219, "Homines qui ex Salino, aut Muribus aut Cineribus capiunt Omina, Deum in Scriptura loquentem non audiunt."

It is a lucky sign to have Crickets in the house. (1) Grose says it is held extremely unlucky to kill a Cricket, perhaps from the idea of its being a breach of hospitality, this insect taking refuge in houses.

Melton, in his "Astrologaster," p. 45, says, "17. That it is a signe of death to some in that house where Crickets have been many yeares, if on a sudden they forsake the chimney."

Gay gives the following, in his Pastoral Dirge, among the rural prognostications of death:

The following line occurs in Dryden's and Lee's "Edipus:"

"Owls, Ravens, Crickets, seem the watch of death." (2)

Pliny, in his "Natural History," book xxix. mentions the Cricket as much esteemed by the ancient magicians: there is no doubt but that our superstitions concerning these little domestics have been transmitted to us from his times.

Willsford, in his "Nature's Secrets," p. 135, says, "FLIES in the spring or sommer season, if they grow busier or blinder than at other

themselves in warm places, expect then quickly for to follow, either hail, cold storms of rain, or very much wet weather; and if those little creatures are noted early in autumn to repair into their winter quarters, it presages frosty mornings, cold storms, with the approach of hoary winter.

"Atomes or Flies swarming together and sporting themselves in the sun-beams is a good omen of fair weather."

(1) Ad Grillum. O qui meæ Culina Argutulus choraules, Et Hospes es canorus Quacunque commoreris

Felicitatis Omen.

Bourne, Poematia, edit. 1764, p. 133.

Gaule, in his "Mag-astromancers posed and puzzel'd," p. 181, mentions among other vain observations and superstitious ominations thereupon, 66 The Crickets chirping behind the chimney stock, or creeping upon the foot-pace."

Ramesey says, in his "Elminthologia," 8vo. Lond. 1668, p. 271, "Some sort of people,

at every turn, upon every accident, how are they therewith terrified! If but a Cricket unusually appear, or they hear but the clicking of a death-watch, as they call it, they, or some one else in the family, shall die."

In White's Selborne, p. 255, that writer, speaking of Crickets, says, "They are the housewife's barometer, foretelling her when it will rain; and are prognostic sometimes, she thinks, of ill or good luck, of the death of a near relation, or the approach of an absent lover. By being the constant companions of her solitary hours, they naturally become the objects of her superstition." "Tender insects that live abroad, either enjoy only the short period of one summer, or else doze away

the cold uncomfortable months in profound slumber; but these residing as it were in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry: a good Christmas fire is to them like the heats of the dog-days." "Though they are frequently heard by day, yet is their natural time of motion in the night."

(2) Dr. Nathaniel Home, in his "Dæmonologie," 8vo. Lond. 1650, p. 59, after saying that, by the flying and crying of Ravens over their houses, especially in the dusk of evening, and where one is sick, they conclude death;" adds, "the same they conclude of a Cricket crying in a house where there was wont to be none."

THE "Guardian," No. 61, speaking of the common notion that it is ominous or unlucky to destroy some sorts of birds, as Swallows and Martins, observes that this opinion might possibly rise from the confidence these birds seem to put in us by building under our roofs; so that it is a kind of violation of the laws of hospitality to murder them. As for Robin Redbreasts in particular, 'tis not improbable they owe their security to the old ballad of the Children in the Wood. The subsequent stanza of that well-known song places them in a point of view not unlikely to conciliate the favour of children:

"No burial this pretty pair

Of any man receives,

Till Robin Redbreast painfully
Did cover them with leaves."

Percy's Old Ballads, vol. iii. p. 176. Of the Robin Redbreast, says Grey on Shakspeare, vol. ii. p. 226, it is commonly said, that if he finds the dead body of any rational creature he will cover the face at least, if not the whole body, with moss. An allusion probably to the old ballad. (1)

The office of covering the dead is likewise

ascribed to the Ruddock or Robin, by Drayton, in his poem called "The Owl." "Cov'ring with moss the dead's unclosed eye,

The little Redbreast teacheth charitie."

See Reed's edit. Shaks. vol. xviii. p. 577.

Thus also in "Cymbeline," act iv. sc. 2:

"The Ruddock would With charitable bill, (O bill sore shaming Those rich-left heirs that let their fathers lie

Without a monument!) bring thee all this; Yea, and furr'd moss besides, when flowers are none,

To winter-ground thy corse."

Again in Reed's Old Plays, vol. vi. p. 358 :

"Call for the Robin Redbreast and the Wren,
Since o'er shady groves they hover,
And with leaves and flow'rs do cover
The friendless bodies of unburied men.'

Thomson, in his Winter, thus mentions the familiarity of this bird:

(1) An Essayist in the "Gent. Mag." for Sept. 1735, vol. v. p. 534, observes: "It is well known the ancient Romans relied very much upon birds in foretelling events; and thus the Robin Redbreast hath been the cause of great superstition among the common people of England ever since the silly story of the Children in the Wood. One great instance of this is their readiness to admit him into their houses and feed him on all occasions; though he is certainly as impudent and as mischievous a little bird as flew."

ever

In Stafford's "Niobe dissolved into a Nilus," 12mo. Lond. 1611, p. 241, it is said, "On her (the Nightingale) waites Robin in his redde livorie; who sits as a crowner on the murthred man; and seeing his body naked, plays the sorrie tailour to make him a mossy rayment."

Thus, in Herrick's "Hesperides," p. 49: "Sweet Amarillis, by a spring's

Soft and soule-melting murmurings,
Slept and thus sleeping thither flew
A Robin Redbrest; who at view
Not seeing her at all to stir
Brought leaves and mosse to cover her."

Also, ibid. p. 126:

To the Nightingale and Robin Redbrest. "When I departed am, ring thou my knell, Thou pittifull and pretty Philomel: And when I'm laid out for a corse, then be Thou sexton (Redbrest) for to cover me."

Pope thus speaks of this bird:

"The Robin Redbreast till of late had rest, And children sacred held a Martin's nest."

It is held extremely unlucky, says Grose, to kill a Cricket, a Lady-Bug, a Swallow, Martin, Robin Redbreast, or Wren; perhaps from the idea of its being a breach of hospita

v, all these birds and insects alike taking ge in houses. There is a particular dis

tich, he adds, in favour of the Robin and Wren:

"A Robin and a Wren

Are God Almighty's cock and hen."(1) Persons killing any of the above-mentioned