[a. Javanese bangsring (Horsfield), native name of the species.] A genus of small insectivorous animals (Tupaia) approaching the squirrel in appearance and arboreal habits, found in Java, Sumatra, and adjoining islands; properly the name belongs only to the Javanese species (T. Javanica) discovered by Horsfield about 1806, the Sumatran species being called tupai.
1824. Horsfield, Zool. Res. Java, s.v. Tupaia, The Bangsring fell under my observation during an early period of my researches in Java.
1847. Carpenter, Zool., § 179. The banxring, a remarkable animal of which only three species are known.
1869. Nicholson, Zool. (1880), 770. ‘Banxrings’ or ‘squirrel-shrews’ of … the Malay Archipelago.
