Zoological Names and Theoi^ies of the Malays. 459 



big cockchafers produce is also louder than that of most 

 Cicadae. 



The Bekatak Demclm, or "Fever Frog" {Megalophrys 

 longipes), gets its name because its croak is supposed to 

 resemble the groans of a Malayman very ill with fever. 

 The Slow Loris {Nycticehus tardigradus\ misnamed in the 

 Straits the " Sloth," is called Konkdng, because it is said to 

 remain on oue tree until it has eaten up all the leaves, and 

 then to call out, " Konkang ! Kongkang ! " This causes the 

 wind to rise, and to blow the branch of another tree within 

 its reach. The Burong Hujdn-hujdn, or " Eain Bird," is the 

 broadbill Gymhorhynchus macrorhynchus, which screeches 

 before rain. 



Probably the greater number of Malay animals' names, 

 however, refer to peculiarities of appearance or habit, and 

 some of this class are most instructive. Two examples will 

 suffice. The Sumpah-sumpah (the lizard Calotes versicolor) 

 is called *' Chameleon " by the Europeans in the Malay 

 Peninsula, because of the power of changing its colour that 

 it possesses ; but its native name, derived from the word 

 sumpah, " to curse," shows a deeper knowledge of the animal's 

 habits than many white zoologists have gained. At the 

 time of courtship the male Calotes posts himself in some 

 conspicuous position, and goes through an elaborate dance 

 before the female, who remains concealed. In this perform- 

 ance he solemnly raises his head, and as solemnly bows it 

 again, all the while opening and shutting his mouth as 

 if chattering rapidly, but without emitting the slightest 

 sound. He appears to be cursing, and so the Malays have 

 given the name of " Curser " not only to him, but also to 

 several other allied lizards. 



In the British official lists of poisonous snakes for which 

 a reward is offered, the name Ular Ketdm-Tebu appears as 

 that of the very venomous Bungarus fasciatus — a black and 

 yellow snake, coloured in bands which appear to be con- 

 spicuous, but are probably protective in reality ; but in the 

 Siamese States, where B. fasciatus is rare, the name Ular 

 Katam-Tebu is generally given to JDipsadomorphus dendro- 

 philus, a large snake, which is probably harmless to man. 



