Crickets

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Andrew Jacobs, Chirps and Cheers: China’s Crickets Clash. This fall, the field crickets are facing off in Beijing's narrow alleys in a revival of a uniquely Chinese blood sport whose provenance extebds back more than 1,000 years. As people have more time and money to spend. big bets are often made on insect warriors that are as pampered as tiny kings. New York Times, Nov 6, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/0 ... =cricket&st=cse

Note:
(a) steed (n): "HORSE; especially : a spirited horse (as for war)"
www.m-w.com
(b) Ningyang Cricket Research Institute  中国宁阳蟋蟀研究院

Ningyang  山东省泰安市 宁阳县
(c)  JIA Sidao  贾 似道 (1213-1275)
(d) Ningjin County (NY Times misspelled as Ningjing)  山东省德州市 宁津县