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Notes and Queries, Number 04, November 24, 1849 by Various
page 20 of 56 (35%)
humiliation, owe its origin to the "umble pye" specified above?

J.T. HAMMACK

* * * * *

BISHOP BARNABY.

Mr. Editor,--Legour asks, why the people in Suffolk call a lady-bird
"Bishop Barnaby?"

I give the following from the late Major Moor's _Suffolk Words_.

"Bishop-Barney. The golden bug. See Barnabee. In Tasser's _Ten
Unwelcome Guests in the Dairy_, he enumerates 'the Bishop that
burneth' (pp. 142. 144.), in an ambiguous way, which his
commentator does not render at all clear. I never heard of this
calumniated insect being an unwelcome guest in the dairy; but
Bishop-Barney, or Burney, and Barnabee, or Burnabee, and
Bishop-that-burneth, seem, in the absence of explanation to be
nearly related--in sound at any rate. Under _Barnabee_ it will
be seen that _burning_ has some connection with the history of
this pretty insect."

"Barnabee," writes the Major, "the golden-bug, or lady-bird;
also Bishop-Barney: which see. This pretty little, and very
useful insect, is tenderly regarded by our children. One
settling on a child is always sent away with this sad
valediction:--

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