ever hope for a Natural History with colored plates that will show us how the world appears to the faceted[1] eyes of a dragon-fly?
V
Catching dragon-flies has been for hundreds of years a favorite amusement of Japanese children. It begins with the hot season, and lasts during the greater part of the autumn. There are many old poems about it,—describing the recklessness[2] of the little hunters. To-day, just as in other centuries, the excitement of the chase leads them into all sorts of trouble:[3] they tumble down embankments, and fall into ditches, and scratch and dirty[4] themselves most fearfully,—heedless of thorns or mud-holes or quagmires,[5]—heedless of heat,—heedless[6] even of the dinner-hour:—
Meshi-doki mo
Modori wasurete,
Tombo tsuri!
Even at the hour of the noon-day meal they forget to return home,—the children catching dragon-flies!
註
