86 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



tants putting their heads under water, and the one who has the most 

 staying power having right on his side. 



The Bomean shrike (Platylophus coronatus), which has an erectile 

 crest of long and broad feathers on its head, is used by the Ibans 

 as a weather prophet on account of its unerring faculty of foretelling 

 a storm, for whenever its whistle is heard, rain is always to be expected. 

 It is very important for Kenyahs and Kayans in connection with tilling 

 farms. When Kayans are clearing any undergrowth for a farm, after 

 having offered to 'Mho' (Haliastur intermedius) and other omen ani- 

 mals, it is desirable that they should hear 'pajan,' the shrike, for then 

 they know they will get plenty of padi of good quality, but there will be 

 a good deal of hard work, and possibly a considerable amount of sickness 

 and cuts and wounds. If they procure this omen, they take the precau- 

 tion of building very substantial granaries. 



Three species of Sun birds (Arachnothera longirostris, A. modesta 

 and A. chrysogenys) are very important to Kayans, Kenyahs and Pu- 

 nans. Any of these species is used impartially, and they bear the name 

 of 'Sit' or Tsit.' 



The 'Sit' is always the first bird to look for when undertaking any- 

 thing — fortunately, an individual of one of the three species is almost 

 always to be seen crossing the river. It is one of the least important 

 omen birds with the Ibans. When Kayans, Punas and Melanaus 

 go in search of camphor, it is first necessary to see a 'Sit' fly from right 

 to left, and then from left to right. A Melanau, who is intending to 

 start on such an expedition, sits in the bow of his boat and chants : 



"0 Sit, Sit, ta-au, Kripan murip, Sit, 

 Ano senigo akau, ano napan akau. 

 Oh! Sit, Sit, on the right, give me long life. Sit, 



Help me to obtain what I require, make me plenty of that for which I am 

 looking." 



An allied bird, Anthreptes malaccensis, is conmionly mistaken by 

 Kayans, but by them only, for Arachnothera longirostris. They use it 

 as an omen bird, but it is not so used by the Kenyahs, by whom it is 

 called 'Manok Obah.' 



All the omen snakes are bad omens, and in the case of a Kayan see- 

 ing 'batang lima' (Simotes octolineatus), he will endeavor to kill it and, 

 if successful, no evil will follow ; should he fail to kill it, then look out.' 



I believe that the Ibans pay some regard to 'Sawa,' a large 

 python (Python reticulatus) and to 'Tuchok,' a kind of Gecko (Ptycho- 

 zoon homalocephalum), and to 'Brinkian,' another kind of Gecko; but 

 I do not know whether these are, strictly speaking, omen animals. 



The omen padi-bug, 'turok parai' (Chrysocoris eques) is only of 

 importance, and that to Kenyahs alone, because it injures the crops. 



