Eristalis tenax in Chinese and Japanese literature. 147 



mntters in Chinese and Japanese literature raay also be introduced 

 here, although they have no direct reference to Eristalis tenax. 

 Taking notice of two short articles in „Nature" (June 1 and 22 1894) 

 about „clouds of flies", he remarks that the same phenomenon is 

 reccrded to have occurred in Japan in May 626 A. D. and in G60 

 A. D. I have already quoted (Oxen-born bees, etc. p. ;^7, foot-note) 

 the Statement of Mr. K. M. that, besides the honey-bee and the silk- 

 worm, other insects (the ant, the cicada, the glow-worni and the 

 cricket) have been very early recorded in the writings of the Chinese; 

 while one of the most anciently referred to in the history of Japan 

 is probably the Dragon-fly, after which the first Emperor Jimmu 

 named his enipire „the region of the Dragon-fly", as early as 630 B. C. 

 I feel impelled to give a public expression of my gratitude to 

 Mr. Kumagusu Min ak ata for the great pains he has taken with 

 the research which has procured the materials for the present paper. 



10' 



