Page:Insect Literature by Lafcadio Hearn.djvu/224

Rh other hand I find as many as four different varieties of dragon-fly bearing the same folk-name! And in view of these facts I venture to think that the following list will be found sufficiently complete:—

I.—Magiwara-tombo (or simply, tombō), "Barley-straw Dragon-fly,"—so called because its body somewhat resembles in shape and color a barley-straw.—This is perhaps the most common of all the dragon-flies, and the first to make its appearance.

II.—Shiokara-tombo, or Shio-tombo,—"Salt-fish Dragon-fly," or "Salt Dragon-fly"—so called because the end of its tail looks as if it had been dipped in salt. Shiokara is the name given to a preparation of fish preserved in salt.

III.—Kino-tombo, "Yellow Dragon-fly."—It is not all yellow, but reddish, with yellow stripes and bands.

IV.—Ao-tombo. Ao means either blue or green; and two different kinds of dragon-fly,—one green, and one metallic blue,—are called by this name.

V.—Koshiaki-tombo,—"Shining Loins." The insect usually so called is black and yellow. 註