The various flights of bees are named as follows:  A swarm. 2.  A cast. 3.  A colt or second cast, and should there be a fourth, which is very rare, it is called a spem—­a swarm from a swarm is called a virgin swarm.

The different values of the swarms are described in this rhyme: 

  A swarm of bees in May
  Is worth a load of hay;
  A swarm of bees in June
  Is worth a silver spoon;
  A swarm of bees in July
  Is not worth a fly.

Bees flying far from their hives and coming home late foretells fine weather.

Bees are more industrious just before rain, but do their best to reach their hives before the rain falls.

      INSECTS.

Spiders were considered efficacious in cases of Ague.  If put alive in a bag and tied round the neck or swallowed alive wrapped in paste.

  If you wish to live and thrive
  Let the spiders run alive.

Spider webs in the air or on the grass and nets foretells fair weather.

A spider on one’s clothes means a new suit or dress.

Woodlice, of the kind which roll themselves up when touched, if swallowed in that state, were taken for the ague.

With regard to wearing out boots, there is a doggrel on this subject:—­

  Trip at the toe, live to know woe,
  Trip at the ball, live to spend all,
  Trip at the heel, live to do well.

One funeral brings two more.

A variation of this makes the “two more” dependent on a Sunday intervening between the death and burial of the body.

Another variation affirms that the first death must be that of a female.

When a grave opens for a “she,” it will open for three.

It is the custom, in some places, to place some salt, in a pewter plate, on the chest of a dead body; but especially when the death has been through dropsy.  This was done only a short time since.

The roaring noise of a fire foretells a quarrel in the house.

A thin flake of smut on a bar of the grate betokens a visit from a stranger.

Cinders flying out of the fire, taking the form of a purse and giving a jingling noise when shaken, foretells the receiving of money.  When they are in the shape of a coffin (and with no jingling) this betokens a death.

If anyone by stirring or otherwise makes a dull fire get bright, it is said to make his or her sweetheart smile.

To prevent cramp at night place your shoes by the bedside in the form of a T. One end pointed to, and the end of the other shoe pointed from the bed, is also considered a preventative.

Knives laid edge upwards on the table cut Angels’ feet.

Two knives, crossed on the table, foretells a quarrel within an hour.

To drop a knife mean a male visitor and, in the case of a fork, a female visitor.

Never give, or accept, a sharp edged or pointed present without giving a coin in exchange, or friendship will be broken.