Some writers say that the shrilling resembles the sound of the syllables gacharin-gacharin; but others compare it to the noise of water boiling. The aburazémi begins to chant about sunrise; then a great soft hissing seems to ascend from all the trees. At such an hour, when the foliage of woods and gardens still sparkles with dew, might have been composed the following verse,—the only one in my collection relating to the aburazémi:—
Ano koë dé
Tsuyu ga inochi ka?—
Aburazémi!
Speaking with that voice, has the dew taken life?—Only the aburazémi!
PLATE IV.
1-2, Mugikari-Zémi, also called Goshiki-Zémi.
3, Higurashi.
4, "Min-Min-Zémi."
IV.—Mugi-kari-Zémi.
The mugi-kari-zémi, or "barley-harvest sémi," also called goshiki-zémi, or "five-colored sémi," appears early in the summer. It makes two distinct sounds in different keys, resembling the syllables shi-in, shin—chi-i, chi-i.