[29] Vol. i. No. 23, pp. 360–363. [↑]
[30] If Sir W. E. Maxwell is right this must be another name for the night-jar (vide p. 110n. supra). But the identification is at least doubtful. [↑]
[31] Vide supra, p. 109, note. [↑]
[32] Cp. Swett., Mal. Sketches, p. 160. [↑]
[33] Swett., Mal. Sketches, pp. 159, 160. [↑]
[34] In Selangor I have heard a similar story; but in this case it was a red-crested hornbill which supplied the buttons, which latter were said to turn green on the approach of poison. The only solid-crested hornbill is, I believe, the Rhinoplax. [↑]
[35] The amount of luck which goes with any particular bird of this species depends on the number of scales on its feet, for counting which certain verbal categories (like our own “tinker, tailor, soldier” formula) are used. Forty-four is the luckiest number of scales for one of these birds to possess. An example is: “Manuk (3), Manumah (5), Sangkesa (6), Desa (1), Dewa (4), Raja (2),” which has to be repeated as the scales are counted (beginning with the lowest scale). The numbers after the words indicate the order of the luck which the birds are supposed to bring; a ground-dove of the first order bringing luck worth a ship’s cargo (tuah mĕrbok tuak sa-kapal). I have kept these birds myself. [↑]
[36] Cp. the Malay pantun:—
“Tĕkukur di gulei lĕmak
Sulasi di-bawah batang