THE BmOS OF SINGAE^RE ISLAND 
Malaysian Archipelago and is no doubt responsible for the 
presence of the species m an apparently wild state in many 
places which are really outside the natural range. 
The Malays purchase them for a few cents apiece and 
carefully regard the legs before they buy a bird. Sometimes 
a prospective buyer may be seen staring intently into a wire- 
fronted box containing scores of the poor little wretches and 
after quite a long time solemnly point out ^ huddled up bird 
m the far comer of the cai^e. The inference is that he had 
studied the scales on the toes and has decided that the bird is a 
* 'lucky" one. Some numbers are lucky, others tmhicky, but 
we have been singularly unsuccessful in getting Malays to 
agree on this point and although we picked out the older men 
to interrogate they seemed curiously at variance as to the 
amount of the lucky number. We mercifully suggest that our 
informers came from different parts of the country and that 
the required number is not the same in all districts. 
Not only is the number of scales on the toes regarded as 
of great importance but the Malays are very exacting as to 
the quality of the "coo". 
The bird itself is supposed to protect the house against 
evil influences and fire and the owner often demonstrates his 
affection for his pet by taking tt out with him, cage as well, 
when he goes for a walk. Kelham writes "my Malay syce 
had one which, on his approaching its cage, expressed its 
delight most demonstratively, fluttering its wings and cooing 
loudly, while a stranger made it wild with fear". 
[58] 
