Chapter Sun to Superstitions of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(7) Bee. If bees swarm on a rotten tree, a death will occur in the family within the twelvemonth.

Swarmed on a rotten stick the bees I spied,
Which erst I saw when Goody Dobson dyed.
   —Gay: Pastoral, v. (1714).

Bees will never thrive if you quarrel with them or about them

If a member of the family dies and the bees are not put into mourning, they will forsake their hive.

It is unlucky for a stray swarm of bees to flight on your premises.

(8) Beetle. Beetles are both deaf and blind.

(9) Cat. When cats wash their ears more than usual, rain is at hand.

When the cat washes her face over her ears, wee shall have great shore of raine.—Melton: Astrologastor, 45.

The sneezing of a cat indicates good luck to a bride.

Crastina nupturæ lux est prosperrima sponsæ:
Felix fele bonum sternuit omen amor.
   —Robert Keuchen: Crepundia, 413.

If a cat sneezes thrice, a cold will run through, the family.

Satan’s favourite form is that of a black cat, and hence it is the familiar of witches.

A cat has nine lives.

Tybalt. What wouldst thou have with me!
   —Mer.

Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.
   —Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, act iii. sc. 1 (1595).

(10) Chameleons live on air only.

I saw him eat the air for food.
   —Lloyd: The Chameleon.

(11) Cow. If a milkmaid neglects to wash her hands after milking, her cows will go dry.

Curst cows have curt horns. Curst means “angry, fierce.”

God sends a curst cow short horns.—Shakespeare: Much Ado about Nothing, act ii. sc. 1 (1600).

(12) Cricket. Crickets bring good luck to a house. To kill crickets is unlucky. If crickets forsake a house, a death in the family will soon follow.

It is a signe of death to some in a house, if the crickets on a sudden forsake the chimney.—Melton: Astrologastor, 45.

(13) Crocodiles moan and sigh, like persons in distress, to allure travellers and make them their prey.

As the mournful crocodile
With sorrow snares relenting passengers.
   —Shakespeare 2 Henry VI. act iii. sc. 1 (1591).

Crocodiles weep over the prey which they devour.