Japanese Folk Tale

Tales about Birds, Beasts, Plants and Trees
Minzokugaku II 9 545. Mr. Minakata says this is a Hiron legend
from Jataka.
295. The Sparrow Wine Dealer
Long ago the sparrow picked grains of rice and left them where
water dammed up by the side of a stream. A man found this and the
flavor was good. He imitated it and learned to make wine. That is why
men at breweries wlll not hurt sparrows even now.
277
Goto, Fukue, etc.
Shimane, Matsue: Nihon den 257, "The sparrow dance" (Suzume odori).
296. The Lizard's Tail
The lizard borrowed man's tail and would not return it. That is
why when a man comes near it, he thinks he has come for his tail. He
leaves it and runs off.
Olta: Bunzen. *
297. The Louse and the Flea
This gives the reason fleas are red and for the black spot on the
back of the louse. There are all sorts of stories about these origins,
and it is even added to a stepmother story.
Yamanashi, Nishiyatsushiro-gun: Kai 295, "The flea and the louse"
(Nomi to shirami). There was a quarrel. The flea fell into the
stream. After that it was afraid of the sound of water.
Kumamoto, Yatsushiro-gun: Dai-ichi 78, "The flea and the louse" (Nomi
to shirami). The flea and the louse went on a pilgrimage to Ise
Shrine. They raced to see who could get there first. The louse
fastened onto a traveler and got there first. The flea was angry
and hit the louse.
Nagasaki: Shimabara 22, "The flea, the louse, and the mosquito" (Nomi
to shirami to ka). The flea and the louse had a big fight. The flea
threw a huge stone onto the back of the louse. It bounced off and
hit the mosquito's legs. The flea strained himself so much that he