248 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



plants, and grasses of all descriptions are favourites 

 with the Japanese artist ; and in the first class the 

 stately Bamboo holds the most prominent position, 

 on account of its almost universal utility and the 

 symbolic value attached to it ; for, like the Fir, it 

 is regarded as the symbol of longevity on account 

 of its generally-supposed long existence. Ksempfer 

 was informed that it will grow for centuries, and, 

 in support of that statement, was shown specimens 

 which had reached the most extraordinary dimen- 

 sions. 



Next to vegetation, the artists of Japan are 

 most skilled in the representation of birds ; and 

 they appear to have an equal love for depicting 

 them either alone or in combination with foliaee. 

 The natural habits of birds supply an inexhaustible 

 source of study, and one may observe everywhere 

 in the work of these artists how painstaking they 

 are in its prosecution, by the care and accuracy 

 with which characteristic positions are rendered. 

 It is chiefly in their pottery, lacquer, illustrated 

 books, and original drawings that we find the best 

 specimens of their skill in this department, although 

 some choice examples are to be met with in metal 

 work and in ivory carvings. Let the material, 

 however, be what it may, wherever there is a bird 

 depicted there is room for study, and cause for 

 admiration. 



The birds most frequently represented, and 

 consequently the most carefully studied by Japanese 

 artists, are the Crane, tame and wild ducks. Wild- 

 goose, Peacock, Pheasant, Raven, Goshawk, 



