68 Dr. A. B. Meyer's Field-notes 



name in the Minahassa, " Koko-ondo/' or " Tontoubara/' 

 i. e. ''Foreteller-bird in daytime.'' (The Dutch in these regions 

 call the bird " Geloofvogel bij dag.") 



Male and female are similarly coloured. 

 Feeds on insects ; makes a nest of tv.igs, like a Pigeon ; 

 very common ; often to be seen near pathways on low shrubs, 

 with its tail hanging down. In the sun the plumage is so 

 brilliant that the bird is hardly recognizable. It is not shy, 

 and does not fly away even after being shot at ; it sits quiet 

 if a bird by its side falls down ; but I always got the impres- 

 sion that it is the fright which rivets it lo the spot. It flies 

 quickly or, rather, glides or slides between the foliage. 



I got the bird in the Minahassa from January till July, 

 near Limbotto from July till September, and on the Togian 

 Islands in August. 



The natives look upon this bird as a prophet (during the 

 daytime) . They converse for hours with it, imitating its many 

 cries. It is said to have ten difi'erent calls. The natives 

 interpret the answers which are given to them according to the 

 mode of the cry ; and they draw the bird near them by imi- 

 tating its voice. They pretend that they only make planta- 

 tions if this bird advises them to do so. If any one intends to 

 do harm to another person the bird warns him. If any one 

 sees two of these birds fighting together, rolling on the ground 

 (a common occurrence, as they grasp each other violently), 

 and one of them remains on the spot, he immediately retreats, 

 because this signifies that in the neighbourhood lies a human 

 corpse ; some one has been murdered, and the observer will 

 be charged with murder if he does not go away. 



Many similar stories are to be heard. Once some one 

 told me, at Hemboken, on the shores of the Tondano lake, 

 that several years before such a bird flew, crying very 

 loudly, over the village, and that all the inhabitants became 

 frightened as to what might happen. On the following day 

 the part of the village over which it had cried was burnt down. 

 It would be very easy to laugh at such superstitions ; but 

 Ave educated Europeans — and not only our peasants — are full 

 of similar superstitions and tales. 



