Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-12-02
Mlistelloncons.
About Animals in Janan.

N@DSAO Al y
The destructive white ant, that great an
noyance of most parts of the East Indies.
is very common. The japanese call them
doc to0S or piercers name they well mer-
it, for they perlorate whatever they meet,
stones and metals only excepted, and when
once they get into a merchants ware house,
they in very short compass Of time can
can destroy or ruin an amazing quantity of
his best goods. Nothing has been yet
found that will keep them off, except salt
laid upon the goods and spread about them
The comnon European ants are their NOR
tai enemies, and wherever these have been
introduced the doo toes have rapidly disap-
peared like the original English rat before
the invasion of the Norwegian.
The islands, however, may be said to be
remarkably free from insects aud obnoxious
reptiles. There are but few snakes. and
hardly any Of them appear to be yenomous
One of these is Of beautiful green color
with very fiat head. japanese soldiers
cook it and eat its flesh in the belief that it
imparts courage and audacty. The natives
also cacine the flesh in an earhern pot
Theoretically sealed, and derive from it a
powder, which they believe to possess the
most extraordinary medicinal virtues 80
There is a water snake of monstrous size !;
and another very large snake of black color,
but quite inoilenslve, Is found in the noun
talns. Both are very scarce, and when ta-
ken are shown about for money.
Birds arc rather numerous. OF tame
poultry they keep only fowls aud ducks
They sell sometimes TO foreigners, but new
er eat them. Cocks are highly priced by
the religious ORDERS because they mark the
time and loretel changes of the weather.
Indeed, they are chiefly kept up as time
keepers.
The crane is the chief of the wild birds
of the country; but like the heron and the
slork, which also abound, they can scarcely
be called wild, Tor they are held as sacred
birds, aud nobody must inlure or modest
them. They thus become quite familiar,
and mix with the people, and IL nRg the
market places, Just as the storks do in all
towns, villages and bazaars in Turkey,
where they are equally objects of affection
and veneraion. No doubt this feeling also
had It's rise in the Tartan regions. When
the conquerlng Turks first came into Eu-
rope, they were accustomed TO say that the
siork had a singular affection for their
race, aud whithersoever they might carry
their victorious arms, the stork would fol-
low them and live with them In Japan the
country people never call the crane by any
other name than that of u IsuriSGm0,
" Ny great lord crane" There are two
sorts of them: one white as snow, and the
other gray. They pouend good fortune,
opl l.urr itfa For this tho M "A
apartments, the walls of temples, aud other
happy places, are commonly adorned with
figures of them Cranes aye also painted
on dishes aud drinking cups, aud reproduce
+ cd on articles of domestic furniture. We
have seen native paintings of these birds
that are exquIsiiely beautiful, as true and
correct in drawing as beautiful in finish and
coloring They are among the very best
specimens of japanese art.
The tortoise is another happy and sacred
creature, and is represented on walls, anc
reproduced IN the same manner
Wild geese aud wild ducks are very a
buudant and very tame. There are severa
species of them. One kind of duck is o
immense size and of wonderfully briIlian
and beautiful plumage. Pheasants, vile
pigeons, and wood cocks are very common
birds Hawks also are common. Our Eu
ropean crows, as also parrots, and othe
Indian birds, are TO be met with.
OF singing birds, kampier mentions onl
larks and nIghilngales but he says tina
both OF these sing more sweetly than whel
with us. The natives highly prize tn
nightingale, and large sums are paid for
large cock with good voice.
They have plenty of bees, and conse
, queutiy, honey aud wax are produced.
The shrlll cicala or winged grasshoppel
peoples the mines, and fills the woods an
mountains with It's iucessant song. Butter
flies and beedles are numerous and divers
fed, some of both kinds being very beaul
ful. Among the night moths there IS on
sort which the japanese ladies keep IN lltll
cages, as pets and curlosIties. Tins mot
is about four inches long, slender, roun
bodied. with four wings, two OF winch ar
transparent, and concealed under the othe
pair Of wings, which shine like polished me
al, and are most beautifully aud curlousl
adorned with blue and gold lines and spoti
The following graceful fable owes lis orIgl
to the matchless beauty of the moth "A
other night-Aies fall in love with 1t aud
il get rid of their opportunities 1t mallciousl
i. bids them, as a trial of their devotion an
constancy, TO 90 and fetch 1t FIRE. Th
|, blind lovers, obedlent TO command, fly
. the nearest lamp OF candle, and never ia
i TO get burned to death.
T. The sea all about Japan is plentiful
ID stocked with all sorts of fish, and the nj
lives are very expert fishermen Ia IT,
time of Charleyoix and Kampler and ca
ler travellers, the whale fishery was carrie
st on TO great extent, particularly IN the Sc
which washes the southern coast Of Il
great island, Nippon. The common wa
of catching them was happening IN Il
manner OF our Greenland fishermen; bl
the japanese boats seem to be filter for Il
purpsse than ours, being small, narrow.
n pering at each end into small point, al
rowing with incredible swlllness. Abo
1850, rich fisherman in the province
!, | OmuTa found out new way OF catchli