from the beautiful mandarin-duck (_oshi-dori_), emblem of conjugal fidelity, to teal (_kogamo_) and widgeon (_hidori-gamo_) of several species. Great preserves of wild-duck and teal used to be a frequent feature in the parks attached to the feudal castles of old Japan, when a peculiar method of netting the birds or striking them with falcons was a favourite aristocratic pastime. A few of such preserves still exist, and it is noticeable that in the Palace-moats of Tokyo all kinds of water-birds, attracted by the absolute immunity they enjoy there, assemble in countless numbers at the approach of winter and remain until the following spring, wholly indifferent to the close proximity of the city. Of reptiles Japan has only 30 species, and among them is included the marine turtle (_umi-game_) which can scarcely be said to frequent her waters, since it is seen only at rare intervals on the southern coast. This is even truer of the larger species (the _shogakubo_, i.e. _Chelonia cephalo_). Both are highly valued for the sake of the shell, which has always been a favourite material for ladies' combs and hairpins. By carefully selecting certain portions and welding them together in a perfectly flawless mass, a pure amber-coloured object is obtained at heavy cost. Of the fresh-water tortoise there are two kinds, the _suppon_ (_Trionyx japonica_) and the _kame-no-ko_ (_Emys vulgaris japonica_). The latter is one of the Japanese emblems of longevity. It is often depicted with a flowing tail, which appendix attests close observation of nature; for the _mino-game_, as it is called, represents a tortoise to which, in the course of many scores of years, confervae have attached themselves so as to form an appendage of long green locks as the creature swims about. Sea-snakes occasionally make their way to Japan, being carried thither by the Black Current (Kuro Shiwo) and the monsoon, but they must be regarded as merely fortuitous visitors. There are 10 species of land-snakes (_hebi_), among which one only (the _mamushi_, or _Trigonocephalus Blomhoffi_) is venomous. The others for the most part frequent the rice-fields and live upon frogs. The largest is the _aodaisho_ (_Elaphis virgatus_), which sometimes attains a length of 5 ft., but is quite harmless. Lizards (_tokage_), frogs (_kawazu_ or _kaeru_), toads (_ebogayeru_) and newts (_imori_) are plentiful, and much curiosity attaches to a giant salamander (_sansho-uwo_, called also _hazekai_ and other names according to localities), which reaches to a length of 5 ft., and (according to Rein) is closely related to the _Andrias Scheuchzeri_ of the Oeningen strata.