94 



pubescence at the tip of the abilomen. Large horse-flies (Tabanus) were annoying along 

 some of the pack-horse trails, and I received quite a severe bite on the arm from one as I 

 was returning from the ascent of Fuji. 



The great areas of wet fields offered ample opportunity for the propagation of 

 aquatic insects, and mosquitoes were therefore abundant, except in the higher mountain- 

 ous districts. The common species is smaller than those of this country, and is nearly 

 black with white markings on the legs. Its bite I did not find very severe, and they are 

 troublesome only from their numbers, and the long period during which they abound. 

 The native name for this insect is Ka., and the mosquito net which is used at night in all 

 houses in infested regions is called Ka-ya, or mosquito-house. 



Fleas were exceedingly abundant in all parts of the country I visited, and in the native 

 houses where we slept on the floors we often had to make a liberal use of insect powder 

 to insure a night's repose. They find good hiding places under the matting which 

 covers the floor, but would not be so troublesome if bedsteads were used. (Jap. Nomi.) 



Lepidoptera. — In this favorite order I saw many beautiful insects, the most con- 

 spicuous being the large black swall ow-tailed butterflies, which flitted about the mountain 

 roads and over the grassy plains, and hovered about the flowering shrubs such as the 

 abundant Hydrangea. Of yellow papilios, however, I saw few specimens, but these were 

 very similar to our common P. turnus. In the woods, which are often almost impenetra- 

 ble from bamlioo scrub, creepers, etc., were many fine Satyrids, Graptas, etc., and a pretty 

 Limenitis having a pale blue band across the wing. The small blue butterflies were 

 sometimes in immense numbers, as along the road leading across the plain from the foot 

 of Fuji to Nakabata, where they rose in swarms from every moist spot. With these oc- 

 curred also great numbers of bright sulphur-yellow butterflies (Colias). Of white 

 butterflies there were tine large species, and I also saw flying in Yokohama examples of 

 what I took to be the common white cabbage butterfly, P. rapes. Skippers did not seem 

 to be in any variety, but on the other hand there were some common butterflies quite 

 unlike those of Canada. High up on one of the mountains, where the flora began to have 

 a home-like appearance, I saw Vanessa antiopa, and I also saw on the wing what was 

 apparently Pp-ameis atalanta. The Japanese name for butterflies is Cho, and for the 

 silkworm Kaiko. 



Of moths I often saw very pretty specimens, but did not attempt to collect any, and 

 cannot even say what groups were most abundant. It will not be out of place here, 

 however, to make a few remarks on what is to Japan a most important species, viz., the 

 silkworm moth, Bombyx mori. The rearing of silkworms and the manufacture of their 

 products employ a large part of the population and contribute greatly to the prosperity 

 of the country. The silk is produced chiefly in the central and western parts of the 

 main island of Hondo, and in these regions enormous tracts of land are devoted to rais- 

 ing the various varieties of mulberry whose leaves supply food for the innumerable and 

 voracious worms. In the Shinshiu provinces the extensive plains were almost covered 

 by mulberry bushes, so that we saw little else from the car windows as we passed through 

 them. At the flourishing city of jSTagano, the chief town of the province, the shops con- 

 tained enormous numbers of cocoons, and in almost ever} house along the neighbouring 

 roads were displayed the same white objects heaped in trays and baskets. In each house 

 also the women were busy reeling the silk from the cocoons with small hand wheels. The 

 main production is by the spring brood, but in some localities there is also a summer one. 

 I did not see any worms feeding at the time of my visit (the middle of Sept.) but saw the 

 moths emerging from the cocoons. At various places in the country I saw large factories 

 for the manufac^'ure of silk (including one at Gifu, since destroyed by the great earth- 

 quake of 28th October), but the greater part of the silk is still, I believe, woven upon 

 hand looms. 



Hymeuoptera. — I collected a fair number of insects belonging to this order, but have 

 not since examined them. The honey-bee does not appear to receive much attention, and 

 the only specimens I saw were at Nikko. All the honey used in Yokohama is obtained 

 from San Francisco. Possibly the flora may not furnish a succession of nectar-bearing 

 flowers sufficient to make the keeping of bees profitable. 



