Semi 



i 



A CELEBRATED Chinese scholar, known in 

 Japanese literature as Riku-Un, wrote 

 the following quaint account of the Five 



Virtues of the Cicada : 



* 



< "I. The Cicada has upon its head certain 

 figures or signs. 1 These represent its [written] 

 characters, style, literature. 



"II. It eats nothing belonging to earth,. and 

 drinks only dew. This proves its cleanliness, 

 purity, propriety. 



"III. It always appears at a certain fixed 

 time. This proves its fidelity, sincerity, truth 

 fulness. 



" IV. It will not accept wheat or rice. This 

 proves its probity, uprightness, honesty. 



1 The curious markings on the head of one variety of 

 Japanese semi are believed to be characters which are 

 names of souls. 



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