takaki, and umaoi sell for one or one and a half sen each. But there is little variation at any season in the prices of suzumusbi and of matsumusbi. These are never very dear, but never sell at less than three sen; and there is always a demand for them. The suzumusbi is the most popular of all; and the greater part of the profits annually made in the insect-trade is said to be gained on the sale of this insect.
IV
As will be seen from the foregoing price-list, twelve varieties of musical insects are sold in Tōkyō. Nine can be artificially bred,—namely the suzumusbi, matsumushi, kirigirisu , kantan, kutsuwamushi , Emma-kōrogi, kin-hibari, kusa-hibari (also called Asa-suzu), and the Yamato-suzu, or Yosbino-suzu. Three varieties, I am told, are not bred for sale, but captured for the market: these are the kanetataki, umaoi or hataori,[1] and kuro-hibari. But a considerable number of all the insects annually offered for sale, are caught in their native haunts.
The night-singers are, with few exceptions, easily taken. They are captured with the help of lanterns. Being quickly attracted by light, they approach the
註
- ↑ 馬追と促織とは別種なり。
