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From these the author turns to creatures that have a real existence. They are given in the following order. The horse, the ox, the cow, the buffalo, the sheep, the goat, the swine, the dog, the cat, the deer, the monkey, the bear, the Tanuki (resembling a wolf, but of a brownish colour and having a fox’s snout) the wilddog, the Itutz, the Tin, the bat, the mouse, the fox, various reptiles, white ants, Mukadde or forty-legs, lizards, snakes, hens, ducks, cranes, herons, wild geese, ducks, pheasants, woodcocks, wild pigeons, storks, falcons, hawks, ravens (from China and the Corea) Foken, (a night bird,) Misago (a voracious sea bird), mews, larks, nightingales, bees, butterflies, beetles, and another kind of beetle, called Sebi or Cicada. It is asserted, says the author, that its noise may be heard at a full English mile’s distance. It disappears in the dog-days and is said to creep into the ground in order to undergo a metamorphosis previous to reappearing the next year anew in a dormant condition from which it again re-emerges (p. 131.) The Japanese name Semi which it bears is given to this insect from its sound resembling music. Other creatures produced in Japan are the Spanish fly and a peculiar night-fly of such beauty as to be preserved by ladies amongst their curiosities. There is a curious belief attached to this fly, namely that all other night flies fall in love with it—a fatal step on their part, since in proof of their devotion they must fetch it fire, in doing which they singe their wings.
Amongst the productions of the sea the first-mentioned is the Whale, which is found chiefly on the southern shore of the chief island. It is caught by means of darts or harping-irons. The Japanese whaling-boats are, says Kaempfer, smaller than ours, and apparently better adapted for their purpose, carrying each ten men, who row them with incredible swiftness. In 1680 a new method of catching whales was discovered, namely by nets of rope two inches thick, (p. 133). This method was practised with great success, but it was abandoned on account of its calling for more expensive tackle than the fishermen
