“This superstition does not alone exert a malign influence, or spell, on the human species. Its ominous power, or charm, is equally effective on the animate creation, at least on those species which are known to depredate on their little fields and gardens. To cast a protective spell around these, and secure the fields against vermin, insects, the sciurus, and other species, as well as to protect the crops against blight, the mother of the family chooses a suitable hour at night, when the children are at rest and the sky is overcast, and having completely divested herself of her garments, trails her _machecota_ behind her, and performs the circuit of the little field.”[851] The fat of bears, says Topsel, “some use superstitiously beaten with oil, wherewith they anoynt their grape-sickles when they go to vintage, perswading themselves that if nobody know thereof, their tender vine-branches shall never be consumed by caterpillars. Others attribute this to the vertue of bears’ blood.”[852] Nicander used “a caterpillar to procure sleep: for so he writes; and Hieremias Martius thus translates him: Stamp but with oyl those worms that eat the leaves, Whose backs are painted with a greenish hue, Anoint your body with ’t, and whilst that cleaves, You shall with gentle sleep bid cares adieu.”[853] Of a caterpillar that feeds upon cabbage leaves, the _Eruca officinalis_ of Schroder, Dr. James says: “Bruised, or a powder of them, raise a blister like cantharides, and take off the skin. Moufet says, they will cause the teeth to fall out of their sockets, and Hippocrates writes, that they are good for a Quinsey.”[854] Psychidæ--Wood-carrying Moth, etc. The larvæ of the Wood-carrying Moth (of the genus _Oiketicus_, or _Eumeta_, Wlk.) of Ceylon, surround themselves with cases made of stems of leaves, and thorns or pieces of twigs bound together by threads, till the whole resembles a miniature Roman fasces; in fact, an African species of these insects has obtained the name of “Lictor.” The Germans have denominated the group _Sackträger_, and the Singhalese call them Darra-kattea or “billets of fire-wood,” and regard the inmates, Tennent says, as human beings, who, as a punishment for stealing wood in some former state of existence, have been condemned to undergo a metempsychosis under the form of these insects.[855] Noctuidæ--Antler-moth, Cut-worm, etc.