CHAPTER LVII. 



FABULOUS CREATURES. (Concluded.) 



What seems to be rather a mammal than a bird is the 

 Fei-sheng, or "Flying Breeder," whose young, as its name 

 implies, are born alive, and not produced first in the form of 

 eggs. According to the description, the young, born whilst 

 the parent is on the wing, are immediately able to fly after 

 her. It is believed that there is here a merely fabulous story 

 derived from imagination and a sight of some flying squirrels. 

 Chinese midwives say that the use of a claw of this bird- 

 mammal will procure an easy accouchement. 



Hunan is credited with the possession, at Yung-chow, of 

 a swallow which during high winds and stormy weather 

 loves to fly in the gusty elements, but as soon as the storm 

 subsides turns to stone again. Hence it is known as the 

 Stone Swallow. 



The Oil Squeezer is a native of Kaichow in Shantung. 

 In appearance it might easily be mistaken for a sheldrake 

 floating on the water. About the beginning of summer its 

 body is said to exude a considerable quantity of oil. 

 Hunters search for it on this account. When captured and 

 killed, the bird is squeezed until no more oil can be obtained 

 from it, and then the miraculous element comes in. No 

 sooner is the dried skin thrown on the water than it becomes 

 a living bird once more, and in time, presumbly, supplies 

 another quantum of oil 



What ardent fishermen the Chinese are everybody 

 'knows who is at all acquainted with them, and as the illimit- 

 able ocean yet contains many creatures in all probability 

 -quite unknown either to them or to western nations, the 

 appearance in their natural histories of strange fishes is less 

 to be wondered at than is that of beasts and birds. If W'estern- 

 ers have their mermaids, the Chinese have their mermen. 

 They are called Kiao-jen, and are found in the southern seas 

 where they are credited with the power to weave a beautiful 

 kind of silky fabric which when hung up in a house ensures 

 coolness to it no matter how torrid the weather may be out- 

 side. When this gentle creature weeps, its tears turn to 

 pearls. There is another species of the same kind of animal, 



