With the Northmen the Lady-bird--Our Lady’s Key-maid--is believed to foretell to the husbandman whether the year shall be a plentiful one or the contrary: if its spots exceed seven, bread-corn will be dear; if they are fewer than seven, there will be an abundant harvest, and low prices.[8] And, in the following rhyme from Ploen, this insect is invoked to bring food: Marspäert (Markpäert) fleeg in Himmel! Bring my’n Sack voll Kringeln, my een, dy een, Alle lütten Engeln een. Or,-- Marspäert, fly to heaven! Bring me a sack full of biscuits, one for me, one for thee, For all the little angels one.[9] In the north of Europe it is thought lucky when a young girl in the country sees the Lady-bird in the spring; she then lets it creep about her hand, and says: “She measures me for wedding gloves.” And when it spreads its little wings and flies away, she is particular to notice the direction it takes, for thence her sweetheart shall one day come.[10] The latter part of this notion obtains in England; and it has been embodied by Gay in one of his Pastorals, as follows: This Lady-fly I take from off the grass, Whose spotted back might scarlet red surpass. Fly, Lady-bird, north, south, or east or west, Fly where the man is found that I love best. He leaves my hand, see to the west he’s flown, To call my true-love from the faithless town.[11] In Norfolk, too, where this insect is called the Bishop Barnabee, the young girls have the following rhyme, which they continue to recite to it placed upon the palm of the hand, till it takes wing and flies away:[12] Bishop, Bishop Barnabee, Tell me when my wedding be: If it be to-morrow day, Take your wings and fly away! Fly to the east, fly to the west, Fly to him that I love best.[13] Why the Lady-bird is called Bishop Barnabee, or Burnabee, there is great difference of opinion. Some take it to be from St. Barnabas, whose festival falls in the month of June, when this insect first appears; and others deem it but a corruption of the Bishop-that-burneth, in allusion to its fiery color.[14] The following metrical jargon is repeated by the children in Scotland to this insect under the name of Lady Lanners, or Landers:[15] Lady, Lady Lanners, Lady, Lady Lanners, Tak’ up your clowk about your head, An’ flee awa’ to Flanners (Flanders). Flee ower firth, and flee ower fell, Flee ower pule and rinnan’ well, Flee ower muir, and flee ower mead, Flee ower livan, flee ower dead, Flee ower corn, and flee ower lea, Flee ower river, flee ower sea, Flee ye east, or flee ye west, Flee till him that lo’es me best.