ants.  With its bill, which is like a duck's but narrower, it
burrows into an ant's-hill, and then with its long, whip-like,
sticky tongue, draws the ants into its mouth by hundreds."

1894.  R. Lydekker, `Marsupialia and Monotremata,' p. 247:

"In order to enable them to procure with facility their food
of ants and their larvae, echidnas are provided with very large
glands, discharging into the mouth the viscid secretion which
causes the ants to adhere to the long worm-like tongue when
thrust into a mass of these insects, after being exposed by the
digging powers of the claws of the echidna's limbs. . .  .
When attacked they roll themselves into a ball similar to the
hedgehog."

<hw>Echu</hw>, n. the name of an Australian bird
which has not been identified.  The word does not occur
in the ornithological lists.

1862.  H. C. Kendall, `Poems--Evening Hymn,' p. 53:

"The echu's songs are dying with the flute-bird's mellow tone."

1896.  `The Australasian,' Jan. 11, p. 73, col. 1:

"`Yeldina' (Rochester) writes--While I was on the Murray, a few
days before Christmas last, some miles below Echuca, my
attention was attracted to the melancholy note, as of a bird
which had lost its mate, calling ee-k-o-o, e-e-koo, which was
repeated several times, after which a pause, then ee-koo,
ee-ko, coolie, coolie, ee-koo.  This happened in the scrub at
sunset, and came, I think, from a bird smaller than the
Australian minah, and of a greenish yellowish hue, larger, but
similar to the members of the feathered tribe known to young
city `knights of the catapult' as greenies.  It was while
returning to camp from fishing that I noticed this bird, which
appeared of solitary habits."

"`Crossbolt' (Kew) writes--The echu is probably identical with
a handsome little bird whose peculiar cry `e-e-choo' is
familiar to many bush ramblers.  It is the size of a small
wood-swallow; black head, back, wings, and tail more or less
blue-black; white throat; neck and breast light to rich
brown. The female is much plainer, and would scarcely be
recognized as the mate of the former.  The melodious `e-e-choo'
is usually answered from a distance, whether by the female or a
rival I cannot say, and is followed by a prolonged warbling."

<hw>Eel</hw>, n. The kinds present in Australia are--

Common Eel--
 Anguilla australis, Richards.

Conger E.--
 Conger labiatus, Castin., and
 Gonorhynchus grayi, Richards.

Green E. (New South Wales)--
 Muroena afra, Bl.

Silver E.--
 Muroenesox cinereus, Forsk.; also called the Sea-eel
  (New South Wales).
 Conger wilsoni, Castln. (Melbourne).

The New Zealand Eels are--

Black Eel--
 Anguilla australis, Richards.

Conger E.--
 Conger vulgaris, Cuv.

Sand E.--
 Gonorynchus grayi, Richards.

Serpent E.--
 Ophichthys serpens, Linn.

Silver E.--
 Congromuroena habenata, Richards.

Tuna E.--
 Anguilla aucklandii, Richards.

The Sand Eel does not belong to the Eel family, and is only
called an Eel from its habits.

<hw>Eel-fish</hw>, n. Plotosus tandanus,
Mitchell.  Called also Catfish (q.v.), and Tandan
(q.v.).

1838.  T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions,' vol. i. pl. 5,
p.. 44 and 95 [Note]:

 "Plotosus tandanus, tandan or eel-fish.  Tandan is the
aboriginal name."

<hw>Egret</hw>, n. an English bird-name.  The following
species are present in Australia, some being European and
others exclusively Australian--

Lesser Egret--
 Herodias melanopus, Wagl.

Little E.--
 H. garzetta, Linn.

Pied E.--
 H. picata, Gould.

Plumed Egret--
 H. intermedia, v. Hasselq.

White E.--
 H. alba, Linn.

<hw>Elder</hw>, n.  See next word.

<hw>Elderberry, Native</hw>, n. The two Australian
species of the Elder are Sambucus gaudichaudiana, De C.,
and S. xanthocarpa, F. v. M., N.O. Caprifoliaceae.

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 56:

"Native elderberry.  The fruit of these two native elders is
fleshy and sweetish, and is used by the aborigines for food."

<hw>Elephant-fish</hw>, n. a fish of New Zealand, South
Australian, and Tasmanian waters, Callorhynchus
antarcticus, Lacep., family Chimaeridae.  "It has
a cartilaginous prominence of the snout, ending in a cutaneous
flap" (Gunth.), suggesting a comparison with an elephant's
trunk.  Called also King of the Herrings (q.v.).

1802.  G. Barrington, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 388:

"The sea affords a much greater plenty, and at least as great
a variety as the land; of these the elephant fish were very
palatable food."

<hw>Ellangowan Poison-bush</hw>, n. a Queensland name
for Myoporum deserti, Cunn., N.O. Myoporinae,;
called "Dogwood Poison-bush" in New South Wales.  Ellangowan is
on the Darling Downs in Queensland.  Poisonous to sheep, but
only when in fruit.

<hw>Emancipatist</hw>, and <hw>Emancipist</hw>, n. (the
latter, the commoner), an ex-convict who has served out his
sentence.  The words are never used now except historically.

1827.  P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,'
vol. ii. p. 118:

"Emigrants who have come out free from England, and
emancipists, who have arrived here as convicts, and have
either been pardoned or completed their term of servitude."

1830.  R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 302:

"Men who had formerly been convicts, but who, after their
period of servitude had expired, were called `emancipists.'"

1837.  Jas. Mudie, `Felonry of New South Wales,' p. vii:

"The author begs leave to record his protest against the abuse
of language to the misapplication of the terms
emancipists and absentees to two portions of the
colonial felonry.  An emancipist could not be understood to
mean the emancipated but the emancipator.  Mr. Wilberforce may
be honoured with the title of emancipist; but it is as absurd
to give the same appellation to the emancipated felons of New
South Wales as it would be to bestow it upon the emancipated
negroes of the West Indies."

1845.  J. O. Balfour, `Sketch of New South Wales,' p. 69:

"The same emancipist will, however, besides private charity, be
among the first and greatest contributors to a new church."

1852.  `Fraser's Magazine,' vol. xlvi. p. 135:

"The convict obtained his ticket-of-leave . . . became an
emancipist . . . and found transportation no punishment."

<hw>Emu</hw>, n. an Australian bird, Dromaius
novae-hollandiae, Lath.  There is a second species, Spotted
Emu, Dromaius irroratus, Bartlett.  An earlier, but now
unusual, spelling is Emeu.  Emeus is the
scientific name of a New Zealand genus of extinct struthious
birds.  The word Emu is not Australian, but from the
Portuguese Ema, the name first of the Crane, afterwards
of the Ostrich.  Formerly the word Emu was used in
English for the Cassowary, and even for the American Ostrich.
Since 1885 an Emu has been the design on the twopenny
postage stamp of New South Wales.

1613.  `Purchas Pilgrimmage,' pt. I. Vol v. c. xii. p. 430
 (`O.E.D.'):

"The bird called Emia or Eme is admirable."

1774.  Oliver Goldsmith, `Natural History,' vol. iii. p. 69,
 Book III. c. v. [Heading]

"The Emu."

1788.  `History of New South Wales' (1818), p. 53:

"A bird of the ostrich genus, but of a species very different
from any other in the known world, was killed and brought
in. Its length was between seven and eight feet; its flesh was
good and thought to resemble beef.  It has obtained the name of
the New South Wales Emu."

1789.  Captain W. Tench, `Expedition to Botany Bay,' p. 123:

"The bird which principally claims attention is a species of
ostrich, approaching nearer to the emu of South America than
any other we know of."

1793 Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 69:

"Some were of opinion that it was the emew, which I think is
particularly described by Dr. Goldsmith from Linneus: others
imagined it to be the cassowary, but it far exceeds that bird
in size . . . two distinct feathers grew out from every
quill."

1802.  D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New South Wales,'
vol. ii. p. 307:

"These birds have been pronounced by Sir Joseph Banks, of whose
judgment none can entertain a doubt, to come nearer to what is
known of the American ostrich than to either the emu of India
or the ostrich of Africa."

1804.  `Rev. R. Knopwood's Diary' (J. J. Shillinglaw--
`Historical Records of Port Phillip,' 1879), p. 115:

[At the Derwent] 26 March, 1804--"They caught six young emews
[sic], about the size of a turkey, and shot the old mother."

1832.  J. Bischof, `Van Diemen's Land,' p. 165:

"We saw an emu track down the side of a hill."

1846.  J. L. Stokes, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. i. c. ix.
p.276

"The face of the emu bears a most remarkable likeness to that
of the aborigines of New South Wales."

1846.  C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 160:

"They will pick up anything, thimbles, reels of cotton, nails,
bullets indiscriminately: and thus the proverb of `having the
digestion of an emu' has its origin."

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. vi. pl. I:

"Dromaius Novae Hollandiae.  The Emu.  New Holland
Cassowary.--'Governor Phillips' Voyage, 1789.'"

1850.  J. B. Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip in 1849,' p. 42:

"The emu strides with such rapidity over the plains as to
render its capture very difficult even by the swiftest
greyhound."

1872.  C. H. Eden, "My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 52:

"A couple of grave-looking emus.  These wobble away at an
ungainly but rapid pace directly they sight us, most probably
vainly pursued by the dray dogs which join us farther on, weary
and unsuccessful--indeed the swiftest dog finds an emu as much
as he can manage."

1878.  A. Newton, in `Encyclopedia Britannica' (9th edit.),
vol. viii. p. 173:

"Next to the ostrich the largest of existing birds, the common
emeu. . .''

1881.  A.C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 210:

". . . points out two emus to John. . . .  They resemble
ostriches, but are not so large, and the tail droops more.
. . .  John can distinguish every point about them, from their
black cast-iron looking legs, to the bare neck and small head,
with its bright eye and strong flat beak."

1890.  `Victorian Statutes--Game Act, Third Schedule':

"Emu.  [Close Season.]  From the 14th day of June to the 20th
day of December following in each year."

1893.  `The Argus,' March 25,p. 4, col. 5:

"The chief in size is the egg of the cassowary, exactly like
that of the emu except that the colour is pale moss green
instead of the dark green of the emu."

<hw>Emu-Apple</hw>, n. See Apple.

<hw>Emu-Bush</hw>, n. an Australian shrub, Eremophila
longifolia, F. v. M., N.O. Myoporineae.

1875.  T. Laslett, `Timber and Timber Trees,' p. 206:

"Emu-tree.  A small Tasmanian tree; found on low marshy ground
used for turners' work."

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 317:

"Emu-bush.  Owing to emus feeding on the seeds of this and
other species.  Heterodendron oleaefolium, Desf."

Ibid. p. 132:

"The seeds, which are dry, are eaten by emus."

<hw>Emu-Wren</hw>, n. a bird-name.  See Malurus.

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 31:

"Stipituras Malachurus, Less.  Emu Wren. The decomposed
or loose structure of these [tail] feathers, much resembling
those of the emu, has suggested the colonial name of Emu-Wren
for this species, an appellation singularly appropriate,
inasmuch as it at once indicates the kind of plumage with which
the bird is clothed, and the Wren-like nature of its habits."

1860.  G. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 213:

"The delicate little emeu wren."

1865.  Lady Barker (letter from `Melbourne), `Station Life in
New Zealand,' p. 8:

"Then there is the emu-wren, all sad-coloured, but quaint, with
the tail-feathers sticking up on end, and exactly like those of
an emu, on the very smallest scale, even to the peculiarity of
two feathers growing out of the same little quill."

<hw>Eopsaltria</hw>, n. scientific name for the genus
of Australian birds called Shrike-Robins (q.v.).  (Grk.
'aeows, dawn, and psaltria, a female harper.)

<hw>Epacris</hw>, n. scientific name of the typical
genus of the order Epacrideae, a heath-like flower
of which there are twenty- five species, mostly Australian.
From Greek 'epi, upon, and 'akron, top (the
flowers  grow in spikes at the top of the plant).
In Australia they are frequently confused with and called
Ericas.

<hw>Ephthianura</hw>, n. scientific name of a genus
of very small Australian birds, anglicized as Ephthianure.
For species see quotation, 1848.  A fourth species has been
discovered since Gould's day, E. crocea, Castln. and
Ramsay, which inhabits Northern Australia.  The name was first
given by Gould, in the `Proceedings of the Zoological Society
of 1837,' p. 148, as a genus novum.  The origin of the
word is not certain, but as the tail is unusually small,
it is suggested that the name is from the Greek 'oura, tail,
and Homeric imperfect 3rd person sing. 'ephthien,
wasted away, from phthiow (= phthinow).
[The word occurs Iliad xviii. 446.]
//phthio is ONLY in Homer!!  Iliad AND Odyssey GJC//

1848.  J. Gould,' Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 64:

"Ephthianura Albifrons, White-fronted Ephthianura,"
pl. 65.  "Aurifrons, Gould, Orange-fronted E.," pl. 66.
"Tricolor, Gould, Tricoloured E.'"

1890.  `Victorian Statutes--Game Act, Third Schedule':

"Close season.--Ephthianuras.  The whole year."

<hw>Escapee</hw>, n. one who has escaped.  Especially
used of French convicts who escape from New Caledonia.  The
word is formed on the model of absentee, refugee, etc.,
and is manifestly influenced by Fr. e/chappe/.
Escaper is the historical English form.  (See Bible, 2
Kings ix. 15, margin.)  //He means, of course, the so-called
Authorised Version" which reads, ftn. 5: "let no escaper go,
etc."  Even though the Revised Version was published in
1885. GJC//

1880.  `Melbourne Argus,' July 22, p. 2, col. 3 (`O.E.D.'):

"The ten New Caledonia escapees . . . are to be handed over to
the French consul."

<hw>Eucalyn</hw>, n. a sugar obtained, together with
laevulose, by fermentation of melitose (q.v.) with
yeast, or by boiling it with dilute acids.

<hw>Eucalypt</hw>, n. shortened English form of
Eucalyptus used especially in the plural, Eucalypts.
Eucalypti sounds pedantic.

1880.  T. W. Nutt, `Palace of Industry,' p. 11:

"Stems of the soaring eucalypts that rise
 Four hundred friendly feet to glad the skies."

1887.  J. F. Hogan, `The Irish in Australia,' p. 126:

"There is no unmixed good, it is said, on this mundane sphere,
and the evil that has accompanied the extensive settlement of
Gipps Land during recent years is to be found in the widespread
destruction of the forests, resulting in a disturbance of the
atmospheric conditions and the banishment of an ever-active
agent in the preservation of health, for these eucalypts, or
gum-trees, as they are generally called, possess the peculiar
property of arresting fever-germs and poisonous exhalations.
They have been transplanted for this especial purpose to some
of the malaria-infested districts of Europe  and America, and
with pronounced success.  Australia, to which they are
indigenous, has mercilessly hewn them down in the past, but is
now repenting of its folly in that respect, and is replanting
them at every seasonable opportunity."

1892.  A. Sutherland, `Elementary Geography of British
Colonies,' p. 270:

"Throughout the whole of Australia the prevailing trees are
eucalypts, known generally as gum-trees on account of the gum
which they secrete, and which may be seen standing like big
translucent beads on their trunks and branches."

<hw>Eucalyptene</hw>, n. the name given by Cloez to a
hydrocarbon obtained by subjecting Eucalyptol (q.v.) to
dehydration by phosphorus pentoxide.  The same name has also
been given by other chemists to a hydrocarbon believed to occur
in eucalyptus oil.

<hw>Eucalyptian</hw>, adj. playfully formed; not in
common use.

1870.  A. L. Gordon, `Bush Ballads,' p. 8:

"Gnarl'd, knotted trunks Eucalyptian
 Seemed carved, like weird columns Egyptian,
 With curious device--quaint inscription
   And hieroglyph strange."

<hw>Eucalyptic</hw>, adj. full of gumtrees.

1873.  J. Brunton Stephens, `Black Gin, etc.,' p.6:

"This eucalyptic cloisterdom is anything but gay."

<hw>Eucalyptol</hw>, n. a volatile oil of camphor-like
smell, extracted from the oil of Eucalyptus globulus,
Labill., E. amygdalina, Labill., etc.  Chemically
identical with cineol, got from other sources.

<hw>Eucalyptus</hw>, n. the gum tree.  There are 120
species, as set forth in Baron von Mueller's `Eucalyptographia,
a Descriptive Atlas of the Eucalypts of Australia.'  The name
was first given in scientific Latin by the French botanist
L'Heritier, in his Sertum Anglicum, published in 1788.
From the Greek 'eu, well, and kaluptein, to cover.
See quotation, 1848. N.O. Myrtaceae.  The French now say
Eucalyptus; earlier they called it l'acajou de la
nouvelle Hollande.  The Germans call it Schoenmutze.
See Gum.

1823.  Sidney Smith, `Essays,' p. 440:

"A London thief, clothed in Kangaroo's skins, lodged under
the bark of the dwarf eucalyptus, and keeping sheep, fourteen
thousand miles from Piccadilly, with a crook bent into the
shape of a picklock, is not an uninteresting picture."

1833.  C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. i. c. ii. p. 80:

"A large basin in which there are stunted pines and eucalyptus
scrub."

1848.  W. Westgarth, `Australia Felix,' p. 132:

"The scientific term Eucalyptus has been derived from the
Greek, in allusion to a lid or covering over the blossom,
which falls off when the flower expands, exposing a four-celled
capsule or seed-vessel."

1851.  G. W. Rusden, `Moyarra,' canto i. p. 8:

"The eucalyptus on the hill
 Was silent challenge to his skill."

1879.  `Temple Bar,' Oct., p. 23 ('0. E. D.'):

"The sombre eucalypti . . . interspersed here and there by
their dead companions."

1886.  J. A. Froude, `Oceana,' p. 118:

"At intervals the bush remained untouched, but the universal
eucalyptus, which I had expected to find grey and monotonous,
was a Proteus it shape and colour, now branching like an oak
or a cork tree, now feathered like a birch, or glowing like
an arbutus with an endless variety of hue--green, orange,
and brown."

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right, c. v. p. 46:

"A lofty eucalyptus . . . lay with its bared roots sheer athwart
a tiny watercourse."

<hw>Euro</hw>, n. one of the aboriginal names for
a Kangaroo (q.v.); spelt also Yuro.

1885.  Mrs. Praed, `Head Station,' p. 192:

"Above and below . . . were beetling cliffs, with ledges
and crannies that afforded foothold only to yuros and
rock-wallabies."

<hw>Exclusionist</hw>, n. and adj.  See
quotation.

1827.  P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,'
vol. ii. pp. 118-19:

". . .  one subdivision of the emigrant class alluded to, is
termed the exclusionist party, from their strict
exclusion of the emancipists from their society."

<hw>Exileism</hw>, n. a word of same period as
Exiles (q.v.).

1893.  A. P. Martin, `Life of Lord Sherbrooke,' vol. i. p. 381:

"A gentleman who was at this time engaged in pastoral pursuits
in New South Wales, and was therefore a supporter of exileism.'"

<hw>Exiles</hw>, n. euphemistic name for convicts.  It
did not last long.

1847, A. P. Martin, `Life of Lord Sherbrooke' (1893),
 vol. i. p. 378:

"The cargoes of criminals were no longer to be known as
`convicts,' but (such is the virtue in a name!) as `exiles.'
It was, as Earl Grey explained in his despatch of Sept 3, 1847,
`a scheme of reformatory discipline.'"

1852.  G. B. Earp, `Gold Colonies of Australia,' p. 100:

"The convict system ceased in New South Wales in 1839; but
`exiles' as they were termed, i.e. men who had passed their
probation at home, were forwarded till 1843."

<hw>Expiree</hw>, n. a convict whose term of sentence
had expired.

1852.  G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (ed.  1885), p. 107:

"A hireling convict - emancipist, expiree, or ticket of leave."

<hw>Expiree</hw>, adj.  See preceding.

1847.  J. D. Lang, `Cooksland,' p. 271:

"Very many of their servants, being old hands or expiree
convicts from New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, are
thoroughly unprincipled men."

1883.  E. M. Curr, `Recollections of Squatting in
 Victoria' (1841-1351), p. 40:

"Hiring men in Melbourne in 1841 was not by any means an
agreeable job, as wages were high, and labourers (almost all
old gaol-birds and expiree convicts) exceedingly independent
and rowdy."

F

<hw>Fairy Gardens</hw>, n. a miner's term, explained
in quotation.

1852.  F. Lancelott, `Australia, as it is', vol. ii. p. 221:

"On the south-eastern portion of this county is the world-famed
Burra  Burra copper mine. . . .  Some of the cuttings are
through solid blocks of ore, which brilliantly glitter as you
pass with a lighted candle, while others are formed in veins
of malachite, and from their rich variegated green appearance
are not inaptly called by the miners `Fairy gardens.'"

<hw>Fake-mucker</hw>, n. a Tasmanian name for the
Dusky Robin (Petroica vittata).  See
Robin.

<hw>Falcon</hw>, n. English bird-name.  The Australian
species are--

Black Falcon--
  Falco subniger, Gray.

Black-cheeked F.--
 F. melanogenys, Gould.

Grey F.--
 F. hypoleucus, Gould.

Little F.--
 F. lunulatus, Lath.

See also Nankeen-Hawk.

<hw>Fantail</hw>, n. bird-name applied in England to a
pigeon; in Australia and New Zealand, to the little birds of
the genus Rhipidura (q.v.).  It is a fly-catcher.  The
Australian species are--

Rhipidura albiscapa, Gould.

Black-and-White Fantail (called also the Wagtail,
  q.v.)--
 R. tricolor, Vieill.

Dusky F.--
 R. diemenensis, Sharpe.

Northern F.--
 R. setosa, Quoy and Gaim.

Pheasant F.--
 Rhipidura phasiana, De Vis.

Rufous F.--
 R. rufifrons, Lath.

Western F.--
 R. preissi, Cab.

White-tailed F.--
 R. albicauda, North.

Wood F.--
 R. dryas, Gould.

The New Zealand species are--

Black F.--
 Rhipidura fuliginosa, Sparrm.  (Tiwaiwaka).

Pied F.--
 R. flabellifera, Gmel.  (Piwakawaka).

In Tasmania, the R. diemenensis is called
the Cranky Fantail, because of its antics.

1847.  L. Leichhardt, `Journal,' vol. ii. p. 80:

"We also observed the . . . fantailed fly-catcher
(Rhipidura)."

1888.  W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 69:

"The Red Fantail, ever flitting about with broadly expanded
tail, and performing all manner of fantastic evolutions,
in its diligent pursuit of gnats and flies, is one of the most
pleasing and attractive objects in the New Zealand forest.  It
is very tame and familiar."

<hw>Farinaceous City</hw>, or <hw>Village</hw>, n. a
playful name for Adelaide.  The allusion is to wheat being the
leading export of South Australia.

1873.  A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,'
 vol. ii. p. 184:

"[Adelaide] has also been nicknamed the Farinaceous City.
A little gentle ridicule is no doubt intended to be conveyed
by the word."

<hw>Fat-cake</hw>, n. ridiculous name sometimes
applied to Eucalyptus leucoxylon, F. v. M., according to
Maiden (`Useful Native Plants,' p. 471).

<hw>Fat-hen</hw>, n. a kind of wild spinach.
In England the name is applied to various plants of thick
foliage.

1847.  L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 40:

"The fat-hen (Atriplex) . . ."

1872.  C. H. Eden, `My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 120:

"Another wild vegetable brew in the sandy beds of the rivers
and creeks, called `fat-hen.'  It was exactly like spinach,
and not only most agreeable but also an excellent anti-scorbutic,
a useful property, for scurvy is not an unknown thing in the bush
by any means."

1881.  A.C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 156:

"Boiled salt junk, with fat-hen (a kind of indigenous
spinach)."

1889.  J. M. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 16:

"Chenopodium murale, Linn., Australian spinach.
Bentham considers this may have been introduced."

<hw>Felonry</hw>, n. See quotation.

1837.  Jas. Mudie, `Felonry of New South Wales,' p. 6:

"The author has ventured to coin the word felonry,
as the appellative of an order or class of persons in New South
Wales--an order which happily exists in no other country in the
world.  A legitimate member of the tribe of appellatives . . .
as peasantry, tenantry, yeomanry, gentry."

1858.  T. McCombie, `History of Victoria,' c. xv. p. 24:

"The inundation of the Australian colonies with British
Felonry."

1888.  Sir C. Gavan Duffy, `Contemporary Review,' vol. liii.
p.14 [`Century']:

"To shut out the felonry of Great Britain and Ireland."

<hw>Ferns</hw>.  The following list of Australian ferns is
taken from `The Fern World of Australia,' by F. M. Bailey of
Brisbane (1881), omitting from his list all ferns of which the
vernacular and scientific names coincide with the names of
ferns elsewhere.

Bat's-wing Fern--
 Pteris incisa, Thunb.

Black Tree F. of New Zealand--
 Cyathea medullaris, Sw.

Blanket F.--
 Grammitis rutaefolia, R. Br.

Braid F.--
 Platyzoma microphyllum, R. Br.

Caraway F.--
 Athyrium umbrosum, J. Sm.

Curly F.--
 Cheilanthes tenuifolia, Sw.

Deer's-tongue F.--
 Acrostichum conforme, Sw.

Ear F.--
 Pteris falcata, R. Br.

Elk's-horn F.--
 Platycerium alcicorne, Desv.

Fan F.--
 Gleichenia flabellata, R. Br.

Golden Swamp F.--
 Acrostichum aureum, Linn.

Grass-leaved F. (q.v.)--
 Vittaria elongata, Sw.

*Hare's-foot F.--
 F. Davallia pyxidata, Cav.

Jersey F.--
 Grammitis leptophylla, Sw.

*Lady F.--
 Aspidium aculeatum, Sw.

*Maiden-hair F.--
 Adiantum, spp.

Meadow-rue Water F.--
 Ceratoptoris thalictroides, Brong.

Parasol F.--
 Gleichenia circinata, Sw.

Pickled-cabbage F.--
 Lomaria capensis, Willd.

Potato F. (q.v.)--
 Marattia fraxinea, Sm.

Prickly F. (q.v.)--
 Alsophila australis, R. Br.

Prickly-tree Fern--
 Alsophila leichhardtiana, F. v. M.

Ribbon F.--
 Ophioglossum pendulum, Linn.

Shiny F.--
 Polypodium aspidoides, Bail.

Snake's-tongue F.--
 Lygodium, spp.

The following are not in Baileys List:

Parsley F.--
 Cheilanthes tenuifolia, Sw.  (Name Parsley applied to a
  different Fern elsewhere.)

Sword F.--
 Grammitis australis, R. Br.

Umbrella F., Tasmanian name for Fan F. (q.v.).

Other ferns not in this list appear elsewhere.  See also
Ferntree.
____
* Elsewhere the name is applied to a different species.
----

<hw>Fern-bird</hw>, n. a New Zealand bird of
the genus Sphenoecus.  Also called Grass-bird,
and New Zealand Pipit.  There are three species--

The Fern-bird--
 Sphenoecus punctatus, Gray.

Chatham Island F.-b.--
 S. rufescens, Buller.

Fulvous F.-b.--
 S. fulvus, Gray.

1885.  `Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,'
vol. xviii. p. 125:

"The peculiar chirp of the fern bird is yet
to be heard among the tall fern."

1885.  A. Hamilton, `Native Birds of Petane, Hawke's Bay':

"Fern-bird.  The peculiar chirp of this lively little bird is
yet to be heard among the tall fern, though it is not so
plentiful as in days gone by."

1888.  W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 59:

"Fern Bird . . . This recluse little species is one of our
commonest birds, but is oftener heard than seen.  It frequents
the dense fern of the open country and the beds of Raupo."

<hw>Fern-tree</hw>, n. Name applied to various
species of ferns which grow to a large size, the stem in the
fully grown plant reaching often a height of many feet before
the leaves are given off.  Such Tree-ferns clothe the sides of
deep and shady gullies amongst the hills, and give rise to what
are known as Fern-tree gullies, which form a very
characteristic feature of the moister coastal Ranges of many
parts of Australia.  The principal Fern-trees or
Tree-ferns, as they are indiscriminately called, of
Australia and Tasmania are--

 Dicksonia antarctica, Lab.;
 Alsophila australis, R. Br.;
 Todea africana, Willd.;
 Cyathea cunninghami, J. Hook.;
 Alsophila excelsa, R. Br.;

the last named, however, not occurring in Tasmania or Victoria.

1836.  Ross, `Hobart Town Almanack,' p. 164:

"We entered a beautiful fern-tree grove, that also concealed
the heavens from view, spreading like a plantation or cocoa-nut
tree orchard, but with far more elegance and effect."

1839.  C. Darwin, `Voyage of Beagle' (ed. 1890), p. 177:

"Tree-ferns thrive luxuriantly in Van Diemen's Land (lat. 45
degrees), and I measured one trunk no less than six feet in
circumference.  An arborescent fern was found by Forster in New
Zealand in 46 degrees, where orchideous plants are parasitical
on the trees.  In the Auckland Islands, ferns, according to
Dr. Dieffenbach, have trunks so thick and high that they may be
almost called tree-ferns."

1857.  F. R. Nixon (Bishop of Tasmania), `Cruise of the Beacon,'
p. 26:

"With these they [i.e. the Tasmanian Aborigines] mingled the
core or pith of the fern trees, Cibotium Bollardieri
and Alsophila Australis (of which the former is rather
astringent and dry for a European palate, and the latter,
though more tolerable, is yet scarcely equal to a Swedish
turnip.)"

1870.  S. H. Wintle, `Fragments of Fern Fronds,' p. 39:

"Where the feet of the mountains are bathed by cool fountains,
 The green, drooping fern trees are seen."

1878.  William Sharp, `Australian Ballads,' `Canterbury Poets'
 (Scott, 1888), pp. 180-81:

"The feathery fern-trees make a screen,
 Where through the sun-glare cannot pass--
 Fern, gum, and lofty sassafras."

"Under a feathery fern-tree bough
 A huge iguana lies alow."

1884.  R. L. A. Davies, `Poems and Literary Remains,' p. 83:

"There were mossy fern-trees near me,
 With their graceful feathered fronds,
 Which they slowly waved above me,
 Like hoar magicians' wands."

1893.  A.R. Wallace, `Australasia,' vol. i. p. 53:

"Here are graceful palms rising to 70 or even 100 feet; the
Indian fig with its tortuous branches clothed with a drapery
of curious parasites; while graceful tree ferns, 30 feet high,
flourish in the damp atmosphere of the sheltered dells."

<hw>Fern-tree Gully</hw>.  See Fern-tree and Gully.

<hw>Fever-bark</hw>, n. another name for Bitter-bark
(q.v.).

<hw>Fibrous Grass</hw>, n. a Tasmanian grass
(see Grass), Stipa semiibarbata, R. Br.,
N.O. Gramineae.

1862.  W. Archer, `Products of Tasmania,' p. 41:

"Fibrous grass (Stipa semibarbata, Br.).  After the seed
has ripened the upper part of the stem breaks up into fibre,
which curls loosely and hangs down waving in the wind."

<hw>Fiddle-back</hw>, n. name given in
Australia to the beetle, Schizorrhina australasiae.

<hw>Fiddler</hw>, n. a New South Wales and Victorian
name for a species of Ray, Trygonorhina fasciata,
Mull. and Heule, family Rhinobatidae.

<hw>Fig-bird</hw>, n. a bird-name.
Sphecotheres maxillaris, Lath.; Yellow bellied,
S. flaviventris, Gould.  S. maxillaris is also
called Mulberry-bird (q.v.).

<hw>Fig-eater</hw>, n. a bird, i.q. Grape-eater
 (q.v.).

<hw>Fig-tree</hw>, n. The name is applied in
Australia to the following species:--

Blue Fig--
 Elaeocarpus grandis, F. v. M., N.O. Tiliaceae.

Clustered F.--
 Ficus glomerata, Willd., N.O. Urticaceae.

Moreton Bay F.--
 P. macrophylla, Desf., N.O. Urticaciae //sic.  check//.

Prickly F.--
 Elaeocarpus holopetalus, F. v. M.,
 N.O. Tiliaceae.

Purple F., or White F., or Rough-leaved F., or Flooded F.
 [Clarence River]--
 Ficus scabra, G. Forst., N.O. Urticaciae.

Ribbed F.--
 F. pleurocarpa, F. v. M., N.O. Urticaciae.

Rusty F., or Narrow-leaved F. [or Port Jackson]--
 F. rubiginosa, Desf., N.O. Urticaciae;
 called also Native Banyan.

1862.  H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p.119:

"And I forget how lone we sit beneath this old fig-tree."

1870.  F. S. Wilson, `Australian Songs,' p. 115:

"The fig-tree casts a pleasant shade
 On the straggling ferns below."

1882.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 537:

"Moreton Bay fig.  This noble-looking tree has a wood which
is sometimes used, though it is very difficult to season."

[It is a handsome evergreen with dark leaves, larger than
those of a horse-chestnut, much used as an ornament in street
and gardens, especially in Sydney and Adelaide.  The fig is
not edible.]

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right, c. 44, p. 380:

"The . . . venerable church with its alleys of araucaria
and Moreton Bay fig-trees."

<hw>File-fish</hw>, n. name given in New
Zealand to the fish Monacanthus rudis, Richards, family
Sclerodermi; in New South Wales to species of the genus
Balistes.  The first of the spines of the dorsal fin is
roughened in front like a file.  Balistes maculatus is
the "Spotted File-fish" of Sydney.  It is closely allied to the
genus Monacanthus, called Leather-jacket (q.v.),
which is much more numerously represented in Australasia.

<hw>Finch</hw>, n. a bird-name, first applied in
Australia, in 1848, by Gould, to the genus Poephila
(Grass-lover), and since extended to other genera of birds.
The species are--

Banded Finch--
 Stictoptera bichenovii, Vig. and Hors.

Black-ringed F.--
 S. annulosa, Gould.

Black-rumped F.--
 Poephila atropygialis, Diggles.

Black-throated F.--
 P. cincta, Gould.

Chestnut-breasted F.--
 Munia castaneothorax, Gould.

Chestnut-eared F.--
 Taeniopygia castanotis, Gould.

Crimson F.--
 Neochmia phaeton, Homb. and Jacq.

Fire-tailed F.--
 Zonaeginthus bellus, Lath.

Gouldian F.--
 Poephila gouldiae, Gould.

Long-tailed F.--
 P. acuticauda, Gould.

Masked F.--
 P. personata, Gould.

Painted F.--
 Emblema picta, Gould.

Plum-head F.--
 Aidemosyne modesta, Gould.

Red-browed F.--
 AEgintha temporalis, Lath.

Red-eared F.--
 Zonaeginthus oculatus, Quoy and Gaim.

Red-tailed F.--
 Bathilda ruficauda, Gould.

Scarlet-headed F.--
 Poephila mirabilis, Homb. and Jacq.

Spotted-sided F.--
 Staganopleura guttata, Shaw.

White-Breasted F.--
 Munia pectoralis, Gould.

White-eared F.--
 Poephila leucotis, Gould.

Yellow-rumped F.--
 Munia flaviprymna, Gould.

<hw>Fire-stick</hw>, n. name given to the
lighted stick which the Australian natives frequently carry
about, when moving from camp to camp, so as to be able to light
a fire always without the necessity of producing it by
friction.  The fire-stick may be carried in a smouldering
condition for long distances, and when traversing open grass
country, such as the porcupine-grass covered districts of the
interior, the stick is used for setting fire to the grass,
partly to destroy this and partly to drive out the game which
is hiding amongst it.  The fire-stick  (see quotations)
is also used as emblematic of the camp-fire in certain
ceremonies.

1847.  J. D. Lang,' Cooksland,'p. 126, n.:

"When their fire-stick has been extinguished, as is sometimes
the case, for their jins or vestal virgins, who have charge of
the fire, are not always sufficiently vigilant."

1896.  F. J. Gillen, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,'
Anthropology, pt. iv. p. 170:

"Carrying fire-sticks, they place rings, woven of fur and
vegetable down, round the boy's neck and arms and sometimes
over and under the shoulders; the fire-sticks are then handed
to him, the lubras saying: Take care of the fire; keep to your
own camp.'"

<hw>Firetail</hw>, n. name applied in Victoria to the
bird AEgintha temporalis, Lath.; and in Tasmania to
Zonaeginthus (Estrelda) bellus, Lath.  In New South
Wales, AE. temporalis is known as the Red-head.

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 78:

"Estrelda Bella, Fire-tailed finch.  Fire-tail,
Colonists of Van Diemen's Land."

<hw>Fire-tree</hw>, n. a tree of New Zealand; another
name for Pohutukawa (q.v.).  For Queensland
Fire-tree, see Tulip-tree.

<hw>Fireweed</hw>, n. a name given to several weeds,
such as Senecio lautus, Sol., N.O. Compositae; so
called because they spring up in great luxuriance where the
forest has been burned off.

<hw>Fish-hawk</hw>, n. English name applied to
Pandion leucocephalus, Gould; called also the Osprey.

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. i. pl. 6:

"Pandion Leucocephalus, Gould, White-headed osprey.
Little fish hawk, Colonists of New South Wales.  Fish-hawk,
Colonists of Swan River.''

<hw>Fist</hw>, v. to use the hands.  The word is not
unknown in English in the sense of to grip. (Shakspeare, `Cor.'
IV. v. 124)

1846.  C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 366:

"`Fist it,' a colonial expression, which may convey to the
uninitiated the idea that knives, forks, plates, etc., are
unknown in the bush; such was formerly the case, but the
march of improvement has banished this peculiar simplicity."

<hw>Five-corners</hw>, n. name given to the fruit of an
Australian tree and to the tree itself, Syphelia triflora,
Andr., N.O. Epacrideae.  There are many species of
Styphelia (q.v.), the fruit of several being edible.

1889.  J. H. Maiden,' Useful Native Plants,' p. 61:

"Five-corners.  These fruits have a sweetish pulp with a large
stone.  They form part of the food of the aboriginals, and are
much appreciated by school boys.  When from a robust plant they
are of the size of a large pea, and not at all bad eating."

1896.  H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 158:

"Still I see in my fancy the dark-green and blue
 Of the box-covered hills where the five-corners grew."

<hw>Flame-tree</hw>, n. The name is given in India and
elsewhere to several trees with bright scarlet, or crimson,
flowers.  In Australia, two different trees are called
Flame-trees--

 (1) A tree of Eastern Australia, with profuse bright
coral-like flowers, Brachychiton acerifolium, F. v. M.,
N.O. Sterculiaceae.

 (2) A tree of Western Australia, with brilliant
orange-coloured flowers, Nuytsia floribunda,
N.O. Loranthaceae; which is also called Tree
Mistletoe, and, locally, a Cabbage-tree.

1885.  R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 96:

"There are flame-trees showing in spring vivid patches
of crimson."

<hw>Flannel Flower</hw>, n. an Australian
flower, Actinotus helianthi, Labill.,
N.O. Compositae.  It ranges from Gippsland to Southern
Queensland, but is particularly abundant in New South Wales.
Sometimes called the Australian Edelweiss.  For the
reason of the name see quotation.

1895.  J. H. Maiden, `Flowering Plants of New South Wales,'
p. 9:

"We only know one truly local name for this plant, and that is
the `Flannel Flower'--a rather unpoetical designation, but a
really descriptive one, and one universally accepted.  It is,
of course, in allusion to the involucre, which looks as if it
were snipped out of white flannel.  It is also known to a few
by the name of Australian Edelweiss."

<hw>Flathead</hw>, n. name given to several Australian
marine fishes, Platycephalus fuscus, Cuv. and Val., and
other species of Platycephalus, family Cottidae.
The Red Flathead is P. bassensis, Cuv.and Val., and the
Rock F. is P. laevigatus, Cuv.and Val.  See also
Tupong and Maori-chief.

1793.  Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 410 (Aboriginal
Vocabulary):

"Paddewah, a fish called a flathead."

1832.  J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' c. ii. p. 32:

"The market of Hobart Town is supplied with small rock cod,
flatheads, and a fish called the perch."

<hw>Flat Pea</hw>, n. a genus of Australian flowering
plants, Platylobium, N.O. Leguminosae.

1793.  `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. ii. p. 350:

"Its name I have deduced from platus, broad, and
lobos, a pod."

"P. formosum.  Orange flat-pea . . . A figure of this
. . . will soon be given in the work I have undertaken
on the botany of New Holland."

[The figure referred to will be found at p. 17 of the `Specimen
of the Botany of New Holland.']

<hw>Flax, Native</hw>, n. The European flax is Linum
usitatissimum, N.O. Liniae.  There is a species in
Australia, Linum marginale, Cunn., N.O. Linaceae,
called Native Flax.  In New Zealand, the Phormium
is called Native Flax.  See next word.

1889.  J. M. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 626:

"`Native flax.'  Although a smaller plant than the true flax,
this plant yields fibre of excellent quality.  It is used by
the blacks for making fishing-nets and cordage."

<hw>Flax, New Zealand</hw>, n. Phormium tenax,
N.O. Liliaceae.  A plant yielding a strong fibre.
Called also, in New Zealand, Native Flax, and Flax
Lily.

1807.  J. Savage, `Some account of New Zealand,' p. 56:

"Small baskets made of the green native flax."

1845.  E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i,
p. 63:

"The plant is called Phormium tenax by naturalists.
The general native name for the plant, we are told, is `korari,'
but each sort, and there are ten or twelve, has its distinctive
name.  Any portion of the leaf, when gathered, becomes here
`kie kie,' or literally, `tying stuff.'  The operation of
scraping is called `kayo,' the fibre when prepared, `muka.'"
[Mr. Tregear says that Wakefield's statements are mistaken.]

1851.  Mrs. Wilson, `New Zealand,' p. 23:

"His robe of glossy flax which loosely flows."

1861.  C. C. Bowen, `Poems,' p. 57:

"And flax and fern and tutu grew
 In wild luxuriance round."

1870.  T. H. Braiui, `New Homes,' c. viii. p. 375:

"The native flax (Phormium tenax) is found in all parts
of New Zealand; it grows to the height of about nine feet."

1872.  A. Domett, `Ranolf,' v.3, p. 93:

"In flowing vest of silky flax, undyed."

1893.  `Murray's Handbook to New Zealand,' p. 29:

"The so-called native flax (phormium tenax)."

<hw>Flax-blade</hw>, n. the leaf of the New Zealand
Flax (q.v.).

1872.  A. Domett, `Ranolf,' i. 5, p. 11:

"With flax-blades binding to a tree
 The Maid who strove her limbs to free."

<hw>Flax-bush</hw>, n. the bush of the New Zealand
Flax.

1854.  W. Golder, `Pigeons' Parliament,' Intro. p. v:

"I had . . . to pass a night . . . under the shade
 of a flax-bush."

1872.  A. Domett, `Ranolf,' x. 4, p. 171:

"And the louder flax-bushes
 With their crowding and crossing
 Black stems, darkly studded
 With blossoms red-blooded."

<hw>Flax-flower</hw>, n. the flower of the New
Zealand Flax (q.v.).

1872.  A. Domett, `Ranolf,' xiv. 3, p. 221:

                              "little isles
Where still the clinging flax-flower smiles."

<hw>Flax-leaf</hw>, n. the blade of the New Zealand
Flax (q.v.).

1884.  T. Bracken, `Lays of Maori' p. 69:

"Zephyrs stirred the flax-leaves into tune.

<hw>Flax-lily</hw>, n. (1) An Australian fibre plant,
Dianella laevis, var.  aspera, R. Br.,
N.O. Liliaceae.  (2) Phormium tenax.  See
Flax, New Zealand.

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 621:

"Flax-lily.  The fibre is strong, and of a silky texture.
The aboriginals formerly used it for making baskets, etc.
All the colonies except Western Australia."

<hw>Flindosa</hw>, and <hw>Flindosy</hw>, n. two trees
called Beech (q.v.).

<hw>Flintwood</hw>, n. another name for Blackbutt
(q.v.), Eucalyptus pillularis.

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 502:

"From the great hardness of the wood it is often known as
 flintwood."

<hw>Flounder</hw>, n. The Flounders in Australia are--

In Sydney, Pseudorhombus russelli, Gray; in Melbourne,
Rhombosolea victoriae, Castln.; in New Zealand and
Tasmania, R. monopus, Gunth. Maori name, Patiki; family
Pleuronectidae.  They are all excellent eating.

1876.  P. Thomson, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,'
vol. ix. art. lxvii., p. 487:

"Patiki (flounder).  Flounders are in the market all the year."

<hw>Flower-pecker</hw>, n. bird-name used elsewhere,
but in Australia assigned to Dicaeum hirundinaceum, Lath.

<hw>Flowering Rush</hw>, n. name given to the rush or reed,
Xyris operculata, Lab., N.O. Xyrideae.

<hw>Flute-bird</hw>, n. another name for the bird
Gymnorrhina tibicen, Lath.  Called also Magpie
(q.v.).

1862.  H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 53:

"The flute-bird's mellow tone."

<hw>Fly-catcher</hw>, n. bird-name used elsewhere.
The Australian species are--

Black-faced Flycatcher--
 Monarcha melanopsis, Vieill.

Blue F.--
 Myiagra concinna, Gould.

Broad-billed F.--
 M. latirostris, Gould.

Brown F. [called also Jacky Winter (q.v.)]
 Micraeca fascinans, Lath.

Leaden F.--
 Myiagra rubecula, Lath.

Lemon-breasted F.--
 Micraeca flavigaster, Gould.

Lesser Brown F.--
 M. assimilis, Gould.

Little F.--
 Seisura nana, Gould.

Pale F.--
 Micraeca pallida.

Pearly F.--
 Monarcha canescens, Salvad.

Pied Fly-catcher--
 Arses kaupi, Gould.

Restless F.--
 Seisura inquieta, Lath.  [called also Razor-
 grinder, q.v., and Dishwasher, q.v.]

Satin F.--
 Myiagra nitida, Gould [called Satin-robin, q.v.,
 in Tasmania]

Shining F.--
 Piezorhynchus nitidus, Gould.

Spectacled F.--
 P. gouldi, Gray.

White-bellied F.--
 P. albiventris, Gould.

White-eared F.--
 P. leucotis, Gould.

Yellow-breasted F.--
 Machaerhynchus flaviventer, Gould.

1790.  J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 161:

"We this day caught a yellow-eared fly-catcher (see annexed
plate).  This bird is a native of New Holland." [Description
follows.]

Fly-eater, n. the new vernacular name for the Australian
birds of the genus Gerygone (q.v.), and see Warbler.
The species are--

Black-throated Fly-eater--
 Gerygone personata, Gould.

Brown F.--
 G. fusca, Gould.

Buff-breasted F.--
 G. laevigaster, Gould.

Green-backed F.--
 G. chloronota, Gould.

Large-billed F.--
 G. magnirostris, Gould.

Southern F.--
 G. culicivora, Gould.

White-throated F.--
 G. albogularis, Gould.

Yellow-breasted F.--
 G. flavida, Ramsay.

1895.  W. O. Legge, `Australasian Association for the
Advancement of Science `(Brisbane), p. 447:

"[The habits and habitats of the genus as] applied to
Gerygone suggested the term Fly-eater, as
distinguished from Fly-catcher, for this aberrant and
peculiarly Australasian form of small Fly-catchers, which not
only capture their food somewhat after the manner of
Fly-catchers, but also seek for it arboreally."

<hw>Flyer</hw>, n. a swift kangaroo.

1866.  T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' second series,
p. 172:

"I may here state that the settlers designate the old kangaroos
as `old men' and `old women,' the full-grown animals are named
`flyers,' and are swifter than the British hare."

<hw>Flying-Fox</hw>, n. a gigantic Australian bat,
Pteropus poliocephalus, Temm.  It has a fetid odour and
does great damage to fruits, and is especially abundant in New
South Wales, though often met with in Victoria.  Described, not
named, in first extract.

1793.  Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 507:

"The head of this bat strongly resembles that of a fox, and
the wings of many of them extend three feet ten inches. . . .
[Description of one domesticated.] . . .  They are very fat,
and are reckoned by the natives excellent food. . . .  It was
supposed more than twenty thousand of them were seen within the
space of one mile."

1827.  P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.
p. 315:

"One flying fox is an immense bat, of such a horrific
appearance, that no wonder one of Cook's honest tars should
take it for the devil when encountering it in the woods."

1830.  R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 310:

". . . a flying fox, which one of them held in his hand.  It
was, in fact, a large kind of bat, with the nose resembling in
colour and shape that of a fox, and in scent it was exactly
similar to it.  The wing was that of a common English bat, and
as long as that of a crow, to which it was about equal in the
length and circumference of its body."

1849.  J. P. Townsend, `Rambles in New South Wales,' p. 97:

"Some of the aborigines feed on a large bat popularly called
`the flying fox.' . .  We found the filthy creatures, hanging
by the heels in thousands, from the higher branches of the
trees."

1863.  B. A. Heywood, `Vacation Tour at the Antipodes,' p. 102:

"The shrill twitter of the flying fox, or vampire bat, in the
bush around us."

1871.  Gerard Krefft, `Mammals of Australia':

"The food on which the `Foxes' principally live when garden
fruit is not in season, consists of honey-bearing blossoms and
the small native figs abounding in the coast-range scrubs. . . .
These bats are found on the east coast only, but during very
dry seasons they occur as far west as the neighbourhood of
Melbourne."

1881.  A.C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. ii. p. 20:

"A little further on they came to a camp of flying foxes.
The huge trees on both sides of the river are actually black
with them.  The great bats hang by their hooked wings to every
available branch and twig, squealing and quarrelling.
The smell is dreadful.  The camp extends for a length of three
miles.  There must be millions upon millions of them."

<hw>Flying-Mouse</hw>, n. See Opossum-mouse
and Flying-Phalanger.

<hw>Flying-Phalanger</hw>, n. included in the class
of Phalanger (q.v.).  The "flying" Phalangers "have
developed large parachute-like expansions of skin from the
sides of the body, by means of which they are able to take long
flying leaps from bough to bough, and thus from tree to tree.
While the great majority of the members of the family are
purely vegetable feeders, . . .  a few feed entirely or partly
on insects, while others have taken to a diet of flesh."
(R. Lydekker.)

They include the so-called Flying-Squirrel,
Flying-Mouse, etc.  There are three genera--

 Acrobates (q.v.), called the Flying-Mouse,
 and Opossum-Mouse (q.v.).

 Petauroides commonly called the Taguan, or
 Taguan Flying-Squirrel.

 Petaurus (q.v.), commonly called the Flying
 Squirrel.

The species are--

Lesser F.-Ph.--
 Petaurus breviceps.

Papuan Pigmy F.-Ph.--
 Acrobates pulchellus (confined to Northern Dutch New
 Guinea).

Pigmy F.-Ph.--
 A. pygmaeuss.

Squirrel F.-Ph.--
 Petaurus sciureus.

Taguan F.-Ph.--
 Petauroides volans.

Yellow-bellied F.-Ph.--
 P. australis.

<hw>Flying-Squirrel</hw>, n. popular name for a
Flying-Phalanger, Petaurus sciureus, Shaw, a marsupial
with a parachute-like fold of skin along the sides by which he
skims and floats through the air.  The name is applied to
entirely different animals in Europe and America.

1789.  Governor Phillip, `Voyage to Botany Bay,' c. xv. p. 151:

"Norfolk Island flying squirrel."  [With picture.]

1827.  P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.:

"The flying squirrels are of a beautiful slate colour, with
a fur so fine that, although a small animal, the hatters here
give a quarter dollar for every skin."

1849.  J. P. Townsend, `Rambles in New South Wales,' p. 37:

"The squeal and chirp of the flying squirrel."

1850.  R. C. Gunn, `Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van
 Diemen's Land,' vol. i. p. 253:

"In the year 1845 I drew the attention of the Tasmanian Society
to the interesting fact that the Petaurus sciureus, or
Flying Squirrel, of Port Phillip, was becoming naturalized in
Van Diemen's Land. . . .  No species of Petaurus is
indigenous to Tasmania. . . .  It does not appear from all that
I can learn, that any living specimens of the Petaurus
schireus were imported into Van Diemen's Land prior to
1834; but immediately after the settlement of Port Phillip,
in that year, considerable numbers of the flying squirrel were,
from their beauty, brought over as pets by the early visitors."

1851.  J. B. Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip in 1849,' p. 78:

"The flying squirrel, another of the opossum species of the
marsupial order, is a beautiful little creature, and disposed
over the whole of the interior of New South Wales: its fur is
of a finer texture than that of the opossum."

1855.  W. Blandowski, `Transactions of Philosophical Society of
Victoria,' vol. i. p. 70:

"The common flying squirrel (Petaurus sciureus) is very
plentiful in the large gum trees near the banks of a creek or
river, and appears to entertain a peculiar aversion to the high
lands."

1890.  C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 90:

"Flying squirrel."

[Footnote]:

"The marsupial flying phalanger is so called by the
Australians."

<hw>Fly-Orchis</hw>, n. name applied in Tasmania to the
orchid, Prasophyllum patens, R. Br.

<hw>Forest</hw>, n. See quotation.

1839.  T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions into the Interior of
Eastern Australia,' vol i. p. 71 [Footnote]:

"A `forest' means in New South Wales an open wood with grass.
The common `bush' or `scrubb' consists of trees and saplings,
where little grass is to be found."

[It is questionable whether this fine distinction still exists.]

<hw>Forester</hw>, n. the largest Kangaroo, Macropus
giganteus, Zimm.

1832.  J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' vol. ii. p. 27:

"There are three or four varieties of kangaroos; those most
common are denominated the forester and brush kangaroo."

1847.  L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 423:

"I called this river the `Red Kangaroo River,' for in
approaching it we first saw the red forester of Port
Essington."

1862.  H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 67:

"And the forester snuffing the air
 Will bound from his covert so dark."

1880.  Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 15:

"We have never had one of the largest kind--the Forester
Kangaroo (Macropus gigantes)--tame, for they have been
so hunted and destroyed that there are very few left in
Tasmania, and those are in private preserves, or very remote
out-of-the-way places, and rarely seen. . . .  The aborigines
called the old father of a flock a Boomer.  These were often
very large: about five feet high in their usual position, but
when standing quite up, they were fully six feet . . .  and
weighing 150 or 200 pounds."

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. xix. p. 181:

"The dogs . . . made for them as if they had been a brace of
stray foresters from the adjacent ranges."

<hw>Forest-Oak</hw>, n. See Oak.

Forget-me-not, n. The species of this familiar flower is
Myosotis australis, R. Br., N.O. Asperifoliae.

<hw>Fortescue</hw>, or <hw>40-skewer</hw>, n. a fish of
New South Wales, Pentaroge marmorata, Cuv. and Val.,
family Scorpaenidae; called also the Scorpion,
and the Cobbler.  All its names allude to the thorny
spines of its fins.  The name Fortescue is an adaptation
of Forty-skewer by the law of Hobson-Jobson.

1882.  Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish of New South Wales,'
p. 49:

"Of this fish Mr. Hill says: The scorpion or Fortescue, as
these fish are popularly termed by fishermen, have been known
for a long time, and bear that name no doubt in memory of the
pain they have hitherto inflicted; and for its number and array
of prickles it enjoys in this country the alias
`Forty-skewer' or `Fortescure.' "

1896.  F. G. Aflalo, `Natural History of Australia,' p. 228:

"Fortescue is a terrible pest, lurking among the
debris in the nets and all but invisible, its spines
standing erect in readiness for the unwary finger.  And so
intense is the pain inflicted by a stab, that I have seen a
strong man roll on the ground crying out like a madman."

<hw>Forty-legs</hw>, n. name given to a millipede,
Cermatia smithii.

<hw>Forty-spot</hw>, n. name for a bird,
a Pardalote (q.v.).  Pardalote itself means
spotted "like the pard."  See also Diamond-bird.

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. ii. pl. 37:

"Pardalotus quadragintus, Gould, Forty-spotted
pardalote.  Forty-spot, Colonists of Van Diemen's Land."

1896.  `The Australasian,' Aug. 28, p. 407, col. 5:

"`Lyre bird' is obvious; so, too, is `forty-spot'; only one
wonders why the number 40 was pitched upon.  Was it a guess?
Or did the namer first shoot the bird and count?"

<hw>Fossick</hw>, v. intrans. to dig, but with special
meanings.  Derived, like fosse, a ditch, and
fossil, through French from Lat. fossus, perfect
part. of fodere, to dig.  Fossicking as
pres. part., or as verbal noun, is commoner than the other
parts of the verb.

(1) To pick out gold.

1852.  W. H. Hall, `Practical Experiences at the Diggings in
Victoria,' p. 16:

"Or fossicking (picking out the nuggets from the interstices
of the slate formation) with knives and trowels."

(2) To dig for gold on abandoned claims or in waste-heaps.

1865.  F.  H. Nixon, `Peter Perfume,' p. 59:

"They'll find it not quite so `welly good'
 As their fossicking freak at the Buckland."

1873.  A.Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' c. xix. p. 286:

"Here we found about a dozen Chinamen `fossicking' after gold
amidst the dirt of the river, which had already been washed by
the first gold-seekers."

1880.  G. Sutherland, `Tales of Goldfields,' p. 22:

"He commenced working along with several companions at surface
digging and fossicking."

1894.  `The Argus,' March 14, p. 4, col. 6:

"The easiest and simplest of all methods is `fossicking.'  An
old diggings is the place for this work, because there you will
learn the kind of country, formation, and spots to look for
gold when you want to break new ground.  `Fossicking' means
going over old workings, turning up boulders, and taking the
clay from beneath them, exploring fissures in the rock, and
scraping out the stuff with your table knife, using your pick
to help matters.  Pulling up of trees, and clearing all soil
from the roots, scraping the bottoms of deserted holes, and
generally keeping your eye about for little bits of ground
left between workings by earlier miners who were in too great
a hurry looking after the big fish to attend much to small fry."

(3) To search for gold generally, even by stealing.

1861.  T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 60:

"A number of idle and disorderly fellows had introduced a
practice which was termed `fossicking.' . . .  In the dead
hours of midnight they issued forth, provided with wax tapers,
and, entering upon the ground, stole the auriferous earth."

(4) To search about for anything, to rummage.

1870.  S. Lemaitre, `Songs of Goldfields,' p. 14:

"He ran from the flat with an awful shout
 Without waiting to fossick the coffin lid out."

1890.  `The Argus,' Aug. 2, p. 4, col. 3:

"Half the time was spent in fossicking for sticks."

1891.  `The Argus,' Dec. 19, p. 4, col. 2:

"I was . . . a boy fossicking for birds' nests in the gullies."

1893.  `The Australasian,' Jan. 14:

"The dog was fossicking about."

<hw>Fossicker</hw>, n. one who fossicks, sc. works
among the tailings of old gold-mines for what may be left.

1853.  C. Rudston Read, `What I heard, saw, and did at the
Australian Gold Fields,' p. 150:

"The man was what they called a night fossicker, who
slept, or did nothing during the day, and then went round at
night to where he knew the claims to be rich, and stole the
stuff by candle-light."

1861.  T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 87:

"I can at once recognize the experienced `fossickers,' who
know well how to go to work with every chance in their favour."

1864.  J. Rogers, `New Rush,' pt. ii. p. 32:

"Steady old fossickers often get more
 Than the first who open'd the ground."

1869.  R. Brough Smyth, `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 612:

"A fossicker is to the miner as is the gleaner to the reaper;
he picks the crevices and pockets of the rocks."

1891.  `The Australasian,' Nov. 21, p. 1015:

"We had heard that, on this same field, years after its total
abandonment, a two hundred ounce nugget had been found by a
solitary fossicker in a pillar left in an old claim."

1891.  `The Argus,' Dec. 19, p. 4, col. 2:

"The fossickers sluiced and cradled with wonderful cradles of
their own building."

<hw>Four-o'clock</hw>, n. another name for the
Friar-bird (q.v.).

<hw>Free-select</hw>, v. to take up land under the Land
Laws.  See Free-selector.  This composite verb, derived
from the noun, is very unusual.  The word generally used is
to select.

1884.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. xix. p. 134:

"Everything which he could have needed had he proceeded to
free-select an uninhabited island."

<hw>Free-selection</hw>, n. (1) The process of selecting
or choosing land under the Land Laws, or the right to choose.
Abbreviated often into Selection. See
Free-selector.

1865.  `Ararat Advertiser' [exact date lost]:

"He was told that the areas open for selection were not on the
Geelong side, and one of the obliging officials placed a plan
before him, showing the lands on which he was free to choose a
future home.  The selector looked vacantly at the map, but at
length became attracted by a bright green allotment, which at
once won his capricious fancy, indicating as it did such
luxurious herbage; but, much to his disgust, he found that `the
green lot' had already been selected.  At length he fixed on a
yellow section, and declared his intention of resting satisfied
with the choice.  The description and area of land chosen were
called out, and he was requested t0 move further over and pay
his money.  `Pay?' queried the fuddled but startled bona
fide, `I got no money (hic), old `un, thought it was free
selection, you know.'"

1870.  T. H. Braim, `New Homes,' ii. 87:

"A man can now go and make his free selection before survey of
any quantity of land not less than 40 nor more than 320 acres,
at twenty shillings an acre."

1878.  `The Australian,' vol. i. p. 743:

"You may go to nine stations out of ten now without hearing
any talk but `bullock and free-selection.'"

1880.  G. Sutherland, `Tales of Goldfields,' p. 82:

"His intention . . .  was to take up a small piece of land
under the system of `free-selection.'"

1884.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. xx. p. 162:

"This was years before the free-selection discovery."

(2) Used for the land itself, but generally in the abbreviated
form, Selection.

1887.  R. M. Praed, `Longleat of Kooralbyn,' vol. vi, p. 56:

"I've only seen three females on my selection since I took it
up four years last November."

<hw>Free-selector</hw>, n. (abbreviated often to
Selector), one who takes up a block of Crown land under
the Land Laws and by annual payments acquires the freehold.
[320 acres to Victoria, 640 in New South Wales.]

1864.  J. Rogers, `New Rush,' pt. i. p. 21:

"Free selectors we shall be
 When our journey's end we see."

1866.  `Sydney Morning Herald,' Aug. 9:

"The very law which the free selector puts in force against the
squatter, the squatter puts in force against him; he selected
upon the squatter's run, and the squatter selects upon his
grazing right."

1873.  Ibid. p. 33:

"Men who select small portions of the Crown lands by means of
land orders or by gradual purchase, and who become freeholders
and then permanently wedded to the colony."

1873.  A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 33:

"The condition of the free-selector--that of ownership of a
piece of land to be tilled by the owner--is the one which the
best class of immigrants desire."

1875.  `Melbourne Spectator,' June 12, p. 70, col. 2:

"A public meeting of non-resident selectors has been held at
Rushworth."

1884.  Marcus Clarke, `Memorial Volume,' p. 85:

"A burly free selector pitched his tent in my Home-Station
paddock and turned my dam into a wash."

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xii. p. 116:

"No, no; I've kept free-selectors out all these years,
and as long as I live here I'll do so still."

<hw>Freezer</hw>, n. a sheep bred and raised in order
that its mutton may be frozen and exported.

1893.  J. Hotson, Lecture in `Age,' Nov.30, p. 7, col. 2:

"In the breeding of what are in New Zealand known as `freezers'
there lies a ready means of largely increasing the returns from
our land."

<hw>Fresh-water Herring</hw>, n. In Sydney, the fish is
Clupea richmondia, Macl.  Elsewhere in Australia, and in
Tasmania, it is another name for the Grayling (q.v.).

<hw>Fresh-water Perch</hw>, n. name given in Tasmania to
the fish Microperca tasmaniae.

<hw>Friar-bird</hw>, n. an Australian bird, of the genus
called Philemon, but originally named
Tropidorhynchus (q.v.).  It is a honey-eater, and is
also called Poor Soldier and other names; see quotation,
1848.  The species are--

Friar-Bird--
 Philemon corniculatus, Lath.  [Called also
 Leather-head, q.v.]

Helmeted F.--
 P. buceroides, Swains.

Little F.--
 P. sordidus, Gould.

Silvery-crowned F.--
 P. argenticeps, Gould.

Yellow-throated F.-
 P. citreogularis, Gould.

Western F.--
 P. occidentalis, Ramsay.

1798.  D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New South
Wales,' p. 615 (Vocab.):

"Wirgan,--bird named by us the friar."

1827.  Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,'
 vol. xv. p. 324:

"Friar,--a very common bird about Paramatta, called by
the natives `<i>coldong</i>:' It repeats the words `poor
soldier' and `four o'clock' very distinctly."

1845.  `Voyage to Port Phillip,' p. 53:

"The cheerful sedge-wren and the bald-head friar,
 The merry forest-pie with joyous song."

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iv. pl. 58:

"Tropidorhynchus Corniculatus, Vig. and Hors.

"From the fancied resemblance of its notes to those words,
it has obtained from the Colonists the various names of `Poor
Soldier,' `Pimlico,' `Four o'clock,' etc.  Its bare head and
neck have also suggested the names of `Friar Bird,' `Monk,'
`Leather Head,' etc."

1855.  W. Blandowski, `Transactions of the Philosophical Society
of Victoria,' vol. i. p. 64:

"The Tropidorhynchus corniculatus is well known to the
colonists by the names `poor soldier,' `leather-headed
jackass,' `friar-bird,' etc.  This curious bird, in common with
several other varieties of honey-eaters, is remarkable on
account of its extreme liveliness and the singular resemblance
of its notes to the human voice."

<hw>Frilled-Lizard</hw>, n.  See quotation.

1875, G. Bennett, `Proceedings of Royal Society of Tasmania,'
p. 56:

"Notes on the Chlamydosaurus or frilled-lizard of
Queensland (C. Kingii.) "

<hw>Frogsmouth</hw>, n. an Australian bird; genus
Podargus, commonly called Mopoke (q.v.).  The
mouth and expression of the face resemble the appearance of a
frog.  The species are--

Freckled Frogsmouth--
 Podargus phaloenoides, Gould.

Marbled F.--
 P. marmoratus, Gould.

Plumed F.--
 P. papuensis, Quoy and Gaim.

Tawney F.--
 P. strigoides, Lath.

1895.  W. O. Legge, `Australasian Association for the
 Advancement of Science' (Brisbane), p. 447:

"The term `Frogsmouth' is used in order to get rid of that very
objectionable name Podargus, and as being allied to the
other genera Batrachostomus and Otothrix of the
family Steatorninae in India.  It is a name well suited
to the singular structure of the mouth, and presumably better
than the mythical title of `Goatsucker.'  `Night-hawk,'
sometimes applied to the Caprimulginae, does not accord
with the mode of flight of the genus Podargus."

<hw>Frontage</hw>, n. land along a river or creek, of
great importance to a station.  A use common in Australia, not
peculiar to it.

1844.  `Port Phillip Patriot,' July i8, p. 3, col. 7:

". . . has four miles frontage to the Yarra Yarra."

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Squatter's Dream,' c. iii. p. 29:

"Jack was piloted by Mr. Hawkesbury through the `frontage'
and a considerable portion of the `back' regions of Gondaree."

<hw>Frost-fish</hw>, n. name given in Australia and New
Zealand to the European Scabbard-fish, Lepidopus
caudatus, White.  The name is said to be derived from the
circumstance that the fish is found alive on New Zealand
sea-beaches on frosty nights.  It is called the
Scabbard-fish in Europe, because it is like the shining
white metal sheath of a long sword.  Lepidopus belongs
to the family Trichiuridae, it reaches a length of five
or six feet, but is so thin that it hardly weighs as many
pounds.  It is considered a delicacy in New Zealand.

1888.  W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. ii. p. 51:

"The frost-fish . . . the most delicately flavoured of all New
Zealand fishes, is an inhabitant of deep water, and on frosty
nights, owing probably to its air-bladders becoming choked, it
is cast up by the surf on the ocean-beach."

<hw>Fruit-Pigeon</hw>, n. The name is given to numerous
pigeons of the genera Ptilinopus and Carpophaga.
In Australia it is assigned to the following birds:--

Allied Fruit-Pigeon--
 Ptilinopus assimilis, Gould.

Purple-breasted F.-P.--
 P. magnifica, Temm.

Purple-crowned F.-P.--
 P. superbus, Temm.

Red-crowned F.-P.--
 P. swainsonii, Gould.

Rose-crowned F.-P.--
 P. ewingii Gould.

White-headed F.-P.--
 Columba leucomela, Temm.

And in New Zealand to Carpophaga novae-zealandiae, Gmel.
(Maori name, Kereru Kuku, or Kukupa.)

<hw>Fryingpan-Brand</hw>, n. a large brand used by
cattle-stealers to cover the owner's brand.  See Duffer
and Cattle-Duffer.

1857.  Frederic De Brebant Cooper, `Wild Adventures in
Australia,' p. 104:

". . .  This person was an `old hand,' and got into some
trouble on the other side (i.e. the Bathurst side) by using a
`frying-pan brand.'  He was stock-keeping in that quarter, and
was rather given to `gulley-raking.'  One fine day it appears
he ran in three bullocks belonging to a neighbouring squatter,
and clapt his brand on the top of the other so as to efface
it."

<hw>Fuchsia, Native</hw>, n. The name is applied to
several native plants.

(1) In Australia and Tasmania, to various species of Correa
 (q.v.), especially to Correa speciosa, And., N.O.
 Rutaceae.

(2) In Queensland, to Eremophila maculata, F. v. M.,
N.O. Myoporineae.

(3) In New Zealand, to Fuchsia excorticata, Linn.,
N.O. Onagrariae.  (Maori name, Kotukutuktu, q.v.).
See also Tooky-took and Konini.

1860.  Geo. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia,'
pp. 371-2:

"The Correa virens, with its pretty pendulous blossoms (from
which it has been named the `Native Fuchsia'), and the Scarlet
Grevillea (G. coccinea) are gay amidst the bush flowers."

1880.  Mrs.Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 23:

"I see some pretty red correa and lilac."
[Footnote]: "Correa speciosa--native fuchsia of Colonies."

1883.  F. M. Bailey, `Synopsis of Queensland Flora,' p. 374:

"E. maculata.  A . . . shrub called native fuchsia, and
by some considered poisonous, by others a good fodder bush."

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 126:

"E. maculata. . . .  Called `Native Fuchsia' in parts
of Queensland."

1892.  `Otago Witness,' Nov. 24, `Native Trees':

"A species of native fuchsia that is coming greatly into favour
is called [Fuchsia] Procumbens.  It is a lovely pot plant, with
large pink fruit and upright flowers."

<hw>Full up of</hw>, adj. (slang), sick and tired of.
"Full on," and "full of," are other forms.

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. xxiii. p. 213:

"She was `full up' of the Oxley, which was a rowdy,
disagreeable goldfield as ever she was on."

<hw>Furze, Native</hw>, n. a shrub, Hakea ulcina,
R. Br.  See Hakea.

<hw>Futtah</hw>, n. a settlers' corruption of the Maori
word Whata (q.v.).

1895.  W.S. Roberts, `Southland in 1856,'p. 28:

"These stores were called by the Europeans futters,--but
the Maori name was Whata."

1896.  `Southland Daily News,' Feb. 3:

"`Futtah is familiar as `household words.'  There were always
rats in New Zealand--that is, since any traditions of its
fauna existed.  The original ones were good to eat.
They were black and smooth in the hair as the mole of the Old
Country, and were esteemed delicacies.  They were always
mischievous, but the Norway rat that came with the white man
was worse.  He began by killing and eating his aboriginal
congener, and then made it more difficult than ever to keep
anything eatable out of reach of his teeth.  Human ingenuity,
however, is superior to that of most of the lower animals, and
so the `futtah' came to be--a storehouse on four posts, each of
them so bevelled as to render it impossible for the cleverest
rat to climb them.  The same expedient is to-day in use on
Stewart Island and the West Coast --in fact, wherever properly
constructed buildings are not available for the storage of
things eatable or destructible by the rodents in question."

G

<hw>Galah</hw>, n. a bird.(The accent is now placed
on the second syllable.)  Aboriginal name for the Cacatua
roseicapilla, Vieill., the Rose-breasted
Cockatoo. See Cockatoo.  With the first syllable
compare last syllable of Budgerigar (q.v.)

1890.  `The Argus,' Sept.  20, p. 13, col. 5:

"They can afford to screech and be merry, as also the grey,
pink-crested galahs, which tint with the colours of the evening
sky a spot of grass in the distance."

1890.  Lyth, `Golden South,' c. xiv. p. 127:

"The galahs, with their delicate grey and rose-pink plumage,
are the prettiest parrots."

1891.  Francis Adams, `John Webb's End,' p. 191:

"A shrieking flock of galahs, on their final flight before they
settled to roost, passed over and around him, and lifting up
his head, he saw how all their grey feathers were flushed with
the sunset light, their coloured breasts deepening into darkest
ruby, they seemed like loosed spirits."

<hw>Gallows</hw>, n. Explained in quotation.  Common
at all stations, where of course the butchering is done on
the premises.

1866.  Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 64:

"The gallows, a high wooden frame from which the carcases of
the butchered sheep dangle."

<hw>Gang-gang</hw>, or <hw>Gan-gan</hw>, n. the
aboriginal word for the bird Callocephalon galeatum,
Lath., so called from its note; a kind of cockatoo, grey with a
red head, called also Gang-gang Cockatoo.  See
Cockatoo.

1833.  C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. i. Intro.
p. xxxviii:

"Upon the branches the satin-bird, the gangan, and various
kinds of pigeons were feeding."

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. v. pl. 14:

"Callocephalon Galeatum, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Colonists
of New South Wales."

<hw>Gannet</hw>, n. the English name for the Solan
Goose and its tribe.  The Australian species are--

The Gannet--
 Sula serrator, Banks.

Brown G. (called also Booby)--
 S. leucogastra, Bodd.

Masked G.--
 S. cyanops, Sunder.

Red-legged G.--
 S. piscator, Linn.

The species in New Zealand is Dysporus serrator, Grey;
 Maori name, Takapu.

<hw>Garfish</hw>, n. In England the name is applied to
any fish of the family Belonidae.  The name was
originally used for the common European Belone vulgaris.
In Melbourne the Garfish is a true one, Belone ferox,
Gunth., called in Sydney "Long Tom."  In Sydney, Tasmania, and
New Zealand it is Hemirhamphus intermedius, Cantor.; and
in New South Wales, generally, it is the river-fish
H. regularis, Gunth., family Sombresocidae.  Some
say that the name was originally "Guard-fish," and it is still
sometimes so spelt.  But the word is derived from xGar,
in Anglo-Saxon, which meant spear, dart, javelin, and the
allusion is to the long spear-like projection of the fish's
jaws.  Called by the Sydney fishermen Ballahoo, and in
Auckland the Piper (q.v.).

1847.  L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 288:

"Charley brought me . . . the head bones of a large
guard-fish."

1849.  Anon., `New South Wales: its Past, Present, and Future
Condition,' p. 99:

"The best kinds of fish are guard, mullet, and schnapper."

1850.  Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip,' c. iii. p. 44:

"In the bay are large quantities of guard-fish."

1875.  `Spectator' (Melbourne), June I9, p. 81, col.1:

"Common fish, such as trout, ruffies, mullet, garfish."

1882.  Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish of New South Wales,'
p. 83:

"Of the garfishes we have four species known to be found on our
coasts.  One, Hemirhamphus regularis, is the favourite
breakfast fish of the citizens of Sydney. H. melanochir,
or `river garfish,' is a still better fish, but has become very
scarce.  H. argentcus, the common Brisbane species
. . . and H. commersoni."

<hw>Gastrolobium</hw>, n. scientific name of a genus of
Australian shrubs, N.O. Leguminosae, commonly known as
Poison Bushes (q.v.).  The species are--

 Gastrolobium bilobum, R. Br.
 G. callistachys, Meissn.
 G. calycium, Benth.
 G. obovatum, Benth.
 G. oxylobioides, Benth.
 G. spinosum, Benth.
 G. trilobum, Benth.

All of which are confined to Western Australia.  The species
Gastrolobium grandiflorum, F. v. M. (also called
Wall-flower), is the only species found out of Western
Australia, and extends across Central Australia to Queensland.
All the species have pretty yellow and purple flowers.  The
name is from the Greek gastaer, gastros, the belly,
and lobion, dim. of lobos, "the capsule or pod
of leguminous plants."  (`L. & S.')

<hw>Geebung</hw>, or <hw>Geebong</hw>, n. aboriginal
name for the fruit of various species of the tree
Persoonia, and also for the tree itself,
N.O. Proteaceae.

1827.  P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.
p. 221:

"The jibbong is another tasteless fruit, as well as the five
corners, much relished by children."

1847.  L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition, p. 478:

"We gathered and ate a great quantity of gibong (the ripe fruit
of Persoonia falcata)."

1852.  G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' c. vi,. p. 176, 3rd
edition 1855:

"The geebung, a native plum, very woolly and tasteless."

1885.  R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 113:

"We gathered the wild raspberries, and mingling them with
geebongs and scrub berries, set forth a dessert."

1885.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Robbery under Arms,' p. 255:

"You won't turn a five-corner into a quince, or a geebung into
an orange."

1889.  J. M. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 584:

"A `geebung' (the name given to the fruits of Persoonias,
and hence to the trees themselves)."

<hw>Gerygone</hw>, n. scientific and vernacular name of
a genus of small warblers of Australia and New Zealand; the new
name for them is Fly-eater (q.v.).  In New Zealand they
are called Bush-warblers, Grey-warblers, etc.,
and they also go there by their Maori name of Riro-riro.
For the species, see Fly-eater and Warbler.  The
name is from the Greek gerugonae, "born of sound," a word
used by Theocritus.

1895.  W. O. Legge, `Australasian Association for the
Advancement of Science' (Brisbane), p. 447:

"[The habits and habitats of the genus] Gerygone
suggested the term Fly-eater, as distinguished from
Fly-catcher, for this aberrant and peculiarly
Australasian form of small Fly-catchers, which not only capture
their food somewhat after the manner of Fly-catchers, but also
seek for it arboreally."

<hw>Ghilgai</hw>, n. an aboriginal word used by white
men in the neighbourhood of Bourke, New South Wales, to denote
a saucer-shaped depression in the ground which forms a natural
reservoir for rainwater.  Ghilgais vary from 20 to 100
yards in diameter, and are from five to ten feet deep.  They
differ from Claypans (q.v.), in being more regular in
outline and deeper towards the centre, whereas Claypans
are generally flat-bottomed.  Their formation is probably due
to subsidence.

<hw>Giant-Lily</hw>, n. See under Lily.

<hw>Giant-Nettle</hw>, i.q. Nettle-tree (q.v.).

<hw>Gibber</hw>, n. an aboriginal word for a stone.
Used both of loose stones and of rocks.  The G is hard.

1834.  L. E. Threlkeld, `Australian Grammar,' p. x.  [In a list
of `barbarisms']:

"Gibber, a stone."

[Pace Mr. Threlkeld, the word is aboriginal, though not
of the dialect of the Hunter District, of which he is speaking.]

1852.  `Settlers and Convicts; or Recollections of Sixteen Years'
Labour in the Australian Backwoods,' p. 159:

"Of a rainy night like this he did not object to stow himself
by the fireside of any house he might be near, or under the
`gibbers' (overhanging rocks) of the river. . . ."

1890.  A .J. Vogan, `Black Police,' p. 338:

"He struck right on top of them gibbers (stones)."

1894.  Baldwin Spencer, in `The Argus,' Sept. 1, p. 4, col. 2:

"At first and for more than a hundred miles [from Oodnadatta
northwards], our track led across what is called the gibber
country, where the plains are covered with a thin layer of
stones--the gibbers--of various sizes, derived from the breaking
down of a hard rock which forms the top of endless low,
table-topped hills belonging to the desert sandstone
formation."

<hw>Gibber-gunyah</hw>, n. an aboriginal cave-dwelling.
See Gibber and Gunyah, also Rock-shelter.

1852.  `Settlers and Convicts; or, Recollections of Sixteen
Years' Labour in the Australian Backwoods,' p. 211:

"I coincided in his opinion that it would be best for us to
camp for the night in one of the ghibber-gunyahs.  These are
the hollows under overhanging rocks."

1863.  Rev. R. W. Vanderkiste, `Lost, but not for Ever,' p. 210:

"Our home is the gibber-gunyah,
  Where hill joins hill on high,
 Where the turrama and berrambo
  Like sleeping serpents lie."

1891.   R. Etheridge, jun., `Records of the Australian Museum,'
vol. i. no. viii. p. 171:

"Notes on Rock Shelters or Gibba-gunyahs at Deewhy Lagoon."

<hw>Giddea</hw>, <hw>Gidya</hw>, or <hw>Gidgee</hw>, adj.
aboriginal word of New South Wales and Queensland for--

(1) a species of Acacia, A. homalophylla, Cunn.  The
original meaning is probably small, cf. gidju,
Warrego, Queensland, and kutyo, Adelaide, both meaning
small.

(2) A long spear made, from this wood.

1878.  `Catalogue of Objects of Ethno-typical Art in National
Gallery, Melbourne,' p. 46:

"Gid-jee.  Hardwood spear, with fragments of quartz set
in gum on two sides and grass-tree stem. Total length, 7 feet 8
inches."

1885.  R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 51:

"Gidya scrubs."

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 357:

"A. homalophylla.  A `Spearwood.'  Called `Myall'
in Victoria. . . .  Aboriginal names are . . . Gidya, Gidia,
or Gidgee (with other spellings in New South Wales and
Queensland).  This is the commonest colonial name . . . much
sought after for turner's work on account of its solidity and
fragrance. . . .  The smell of the tree when in flower is
abominable, and just before rain almost unbearable."

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xvii. p. 211:

"I sat . . . watching the shadows of the gydya trees lengthen,
ah! so slowly."

1890.  C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 37:

"Kind of scrub, called by the colonists gydya-scrub, which
manifests itself even at a distance by a very characteristic,
but not agreeable odour, being especially pungent after rain."

1896.  Baldwin Spencer, `Home Expedition in Central Australia,'
Narrative, p. 22:

"We camped beside a water-pool on the Adminga Creek, which is
bordered for the main part by a belt of the stinking acacia, or
giddea (A. homalophylla).  When the branches are freshly
cut it well deserves the former name, as they have a most
objectionable smell."

<hw>Gill-bird</hw>, n. an occasional name for the
Wattle-bird (q.v.).

1896.  `Menu' for October 15:

 "Gill-bird on Toast."

<hw>Gin</hw>, n. a native word for an aboriginal woman,
and used, though rarely, even for a female kangaroo.  See
quotation 1833.  The form gun (see quotation 1865) looks
as if it had been altered to meet gunae, and of course
generate is not derived from gunae, though it may be a
distant relative.  In `Collins's Vocabulary' occurs "din, a
woman."  If such a phonetic spelling as djin had been
adopted, as it well might have been, to express the native
sound, where would the gunae theory have been?

1798.  D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New South
Wales,' Vocabulary, p. 612:

"Din--a woman."

1830.  R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 152:

"A proposition was made by one of my natives to go and steal a
gin (wife)."

Ibid.  p. 153:

"She agrees to become his gin."

1833.  Lieut. Breton, R.N., `Excursions in New South Wales,'
p. 254:

"The flying gin (gin is the native word for woman or female) is
a boomall, and will leave behind every description of dog."

1834.  L. E. Threlkeld, `Australian Grammar,' p. x:

"As a barbarism [sc. not used on the Hunter], jin--a wife."

1845.  J. O. Balfour, `Sketch of New South Wales,' p. 8:

"A gin (the aboriginal for a married woman)."

1846.  C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 367:

"Gin, the term applied to the native female blacks; not from
any attachment to the spirit of that name, but from some (to
me) unknown derivation."

1846.  J. L. Stokes, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. I. c. iv.
p. 74:

"Though very anxious to . . . carry off one of their `gins,'
or wives . . . he yet evidently holds these north men in great
dread."

1847.  J. D. Lang, `Cooksland,'p. 126, n.:

"When their fire-stick has been extinguished, as is sometimes
the case, for their jins or vestal virgins, who have charge of
the fire, are not always sufficiently vigilant."

1852.  G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1855), p. 98:

"Gins--native women--from gune, mulier, evidently!"

1864.  J. Rogers, `New Rush,' pt. 2, p. 46:

"The females would be comely looking gins,
 Were not their limbs so much like rolling-pins."

1865.  S. Bennett, `Australian Discovery,' p. 250:

"Gin or gun, a woman.  Greek gunae and derivative words
in English, such as generate, generation, and the like."

1872.  C. H. Eden, `MY Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 118:

"The gins are captives of their bow and spear, and are brought
home before the captor on his saddle.  This seems the orthodox
way of wooing the coy forest maidens. . . .  All blacks are
cruel to their gins."

1880.  J. Brunton Stephens, `Poems' [Title]:

"To a black gin."

1885.  R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 23:

"Certain stout young gins or lubras, set apart for the purpose,
were sacrificed."

<hw>Ginger, Native</hw>, n. an Australian tree,
Alpinia caerulea, Benth., N.O. Scitamineae.
The globular fruit is eaten by the natives.

1890.  C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 296:

"Fresh green leaves, especially of the so-called native ginger
(Alpinia caerulea)."

<hw>Give Best</hw>, v. Australian slang, meaning to
acknowledge superiority, or to give up trying at anything.

1883.  Keighley, `Who are You?' p. 87:

"But then--the fact had better be confessed, I went to work
and gave the schooling best."

1887.  J. Farrell, `How he Died,' p. 80:

"Charley gave life best and died of grief."

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. xviii. p. 174:

"It's not like an Englishman to jack up and give these fellows
best."

<hw>Globe-fish</hw>, n. name given to the fish
Tetrodon hamiltoni, Richards., family
Gymnodontes.  The Spiny Globe-fish is
Diodon.  These are also called Toad-fish (q.v.),
and Porcupine-fish (q.v.).  The name is applied to other
fish elsewhere.

<hw>Glory Flower</hw>, or <hw>Glory Pea</hw>,
i.q. Clianthus (q.v.).

<hw>Glory Pea</hw>, i.q. Clianthus (q.v.).

<hw>Glucking-bird</hw>, n. a bird so named by
Leichhardt, but not identified.  Probably the Boobook
(q.v.), and see its quotation 1827; see also under
Mopoke quotation, Owl, 1846.

1847.  L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 23:

"The musical note of an unknown bird, sounding like `gluck
gluck' frequently repeated, and ending in a shake . . . are
heard from the neighbourhood of the scrub."

Ibid. p. 29:

"The glucking bird--by which name, in consequence of its note,
the bird may be distinguished--was heard through the night."

Ibid. p. 47:

"The glucking-bird and the barking owl were heard throughout
the moonlight nights."

Ibid. pp. 398, 399:

"During the night, we heard the well-known note of what we
called the `Glucking bird,' when we first met with it in the
Cypress-pine country at the early part of our expedition.  Its
re-appearance with the Cypress-pine corroborated my supposition,
that the bird lived on the seeds of that tree."

<hw>Glue-pot</hw>, n. part of a road so bad that the
coach or buggy sticks in it.

1892.  `Daily News,' London (exact date lost):

"The Bishop of Manchester [Dr. Moorhouse, formerly Bishop of
Melbourne], whose authority on missionary subjects will not be
disputed, assures us that no one can possibly understand the
difficulties and the troubles attendant upon the work of a
Colonial bishop or clergyman until he has driven across almost
pathless wastes or through almost inaccessible forests, has
struggled through what they used to call `glue-pots,' until he
has been shaken to pieces by `corduroy roads,' and has been in
the midst of forests with the branches of trees falling around
on all sides, knowing full well that if one fell upon him he
would be killed."

<hw>Goai</hw>, n. common name in southern island of New
Zealand for Kowhai (q.v.), of which it is a corruption.
It is especially used of the timber of this tree, which is
valuable for fencing.  The change from K to G
also took place in the name Otago, formerly spelt Otakou.

1860.  John Blair, `New Zealand for Me,':

"The land of the goai tree, mapu, and pine,
 The stately totara, and blooming wild vine."

1863.  S. Butler, `First Year in Canterbury Settlement,' p. 104:

"I remember nothing but a rather curiously shaped gowai-tree."

<hw>Goanna</hw>, <hw>Guana</hw>, and <hw>Guano</hw>, n.
popular corruptions for Iguana, the large Lace-lizard
(q.v.), Varanus varius, Shaw.  In New Zealand, the word
Guano is applied to the lizard-like reptile Sphenodon
punctatum.  See Tuatara.  In Tasmania, the name is
given to Taliqua schincoides, White, and throughout
Australia any lizard of a large size is popularly called a
Guana, or in the bush, more commonly, a Goanna.
See also Lace-lizard.

1802.  G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' c. viii.
p. 285:

"Among other reptiles were found . . . some brown guanoes."

1830.  R. Dawson, `Present state of Australia,' p. 118:

"At length an animal called a guana (a very large species of
lizard) jumped out of the grass, and with amazing rapidity ran,
as they always do when disturbed, up a high tree."

1864.  J. Ropers, `New Rush,' p. 6:

"The shy guana climbs a tree in fear."

1891.  Rolf Boldrewood, `A Sydney-side Saxon,' p. 99:

"A goanna startled him, and he set to and kicked the front of
the buggy in."

1896.  H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 139:

"And the sinister `gohanna,' and the lizard, and the snake."

<hw>Go-ashore</hw>, n. an iron pot or cauldron, with
three iron feet, and two ears, from which it was suspended by
a wire handle over the fire.  It is a corruption of the Maori
word Kohua (q.v.), by the law of Hobson-Jobson.

1849.  W. Tyrone Power, `Sketches in New Zealand with Pen and
Pencil,' p. 160:

"Engaged in the superintendence of a Maori oven, or a huge
gipsy-looking cauldron, called a `go-ashore.'"

1877.  An Old Colonist, `Colonial Experiences,' p. 124:

"A large go-ashore, or three-legged pot, of the size and shape
of the cauldron usually introduced in the witch scene in
Macbeth."

1879.  C. L. Innes, `Canterbury Sketches,' p. 23:

"There was another pot, called by the euphonious name of a
`Go-ashore,' which used to hang by a chain over the fire.
This was used for boiling."

<hw>Goborro</hw>, n. aboriginal name for Eucalyptus
microtheca, F. v. M.  See Dwarf-box, under Box.

<hw>Goburra</hw>, and <hw>Gogobera</hw>, n. variants
of Kookaburra (q.v.).

<hw>Goditcha</hw>.  See Kurdaitcha.

<hw>Godwit</hw>, n. the English name for birds of the
genus Limosa.  The Australian species are--

Black-tailed G.,--
 Limosa melanuroides, Gould;

Barred-rumped G.,--
 L. uropygialis, Gould.

<hw>Gogobera</hw>, and <hw>Goburra</hw>, n. variants of
Kookaburra (q.v.).

<hw>Gold</hw>-.  The following words and phrases compounded
with "gold" are Australian in use, though probably some are
used elsewhere.

<hw>Gold-bearing</hw>, verbal adj. auriferous.

1890.  `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 13:

"A new line of gold-bearing quartz."

<hw>Gold-digging</hw>, verbal n. mining or digging for
gold.

1880.  G. Sutherland, `Tales of Gold.  fields,' p. 36:

"There were over forty miners thus playing at gold-digging
in Hiscock's Gully."

<hw>Gold-digger</hw>, n.

1852.  J. Bonwick [Title]:

"Notes of a Gold-digger."

<hw>Gold-fever</hw>, n. the desire to obtain gold by
digging.  The word is more especially applied to the period
between 1851 and 1857, the early Australian discovery of gold.
The term had been previously applied in a similar way to the
Californian excitement in 1848-49.  Called also Yellow
fever.

1888.  A. J. Barbour, `Clara,' c. ix. p. 13:

"The gold fever coursed through every vein."

<hw>Gold-field</hw>, n. district where mining for gold
is carried on.

1858.  T. McCombie, `History of Victoria, c. xv. p. 215:

"All were anxious to get away for the gold fields."

1880.  G. Sutherland, [Title] `Tales of Goldfields,' p. 19:

"Edward Hargreaves, the discoverer of the Australian goldfields
. . . received L15,000 as his reward."

<hw>Gold-founded</hw>, part. adj. founded as the result
of the discovery of gold.

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. ix. p. 91:

"I rode up the narrow street, serpentine in construction, as in
all gold-founded townships."

<hw>Gold-hunter</hw>, n. searcher after gold.

1852.  G. S. Rutter [Title]:

 "Hints to Gold-hunters."

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. v. p. 48:

"I was not as one of the reckless gold-hunters with which
the camp was thronged."

<hw>Gold-mining</hw>, verbal n.

1852.  J. A.Phillips [Title]:

"Gold-mining; a Scientific Guide for Australian Emigrants."

1880.  G. Sutherland, `Tales of Goldfields,' p. 23:

"He had already had quite enough of gold-mining."

<hw>Gold-seeking</hw>, adj.

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. xv. p. 150:

"The great gold-seeking multitude had swelled . . . to the
population of a province."

<hw>Golden Bell-Frog</hw>, n. name applied to a large
gold and green frog, Hyla aurea, Less., which, unlike
the great majority of the family Hylidae to which it
belongs, is terrestrial and not arboreal in its habits, being
found in and about water-holes in many parts of Australia.

1881.   F. McCoy, `Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria,'
Dec. 6, pl. 53:

"So completely alike was the sound of the Bell-frogs in an
adjoining pond at night to the noise of the men by day."

<hw>Golden-chain</hw>, n. another name for the
Laburnum
 (q.v.).

<hw>Golden-eye</hw>, n. the bird Certhia
lunulatu, Shaw; now called Melithreptus lunulatus,
Shaw, and classed as White-naped Honey-eater (q.v.).

1827.  Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,'
vol. xv. p. 315:

"`This bird,' Mr. Caley says, `is called Golden-eye by the
settlers.  I shot it at Iron Cove, seven miles from Sydney,
on the Paramatta road.'"

<hw>Golden-Perch</hw>, n. a fresh-water fish of
Australia, Ctenolates ambiguus, Richards., family
Percidae, and C. christyi, Castln.; also called
the Yellow-belly.  C. ambiguus is common in the
rivers and lagoons of the Murray system.

<hw>Golden-Rosemary</hw>, n. See Rosemary.

<hw>Golden-Wattle</hw>, n. See Wattle.

1896.  `The Argus,' July 20, p. 5, col. 8:

"Many persons who had been lured into gathering armfuls
of early wattle had cause to regret their devotion to the
Australian national bloom, for the golden wattle blossoms
produced unpleasant associations in the minds of the wearers
of the green, and there were blows and curses in plenty.
In political botany the wattle and blackthorn cannot grow
side by side."

1896.  `The Melburnian,' Aug. 28, p. 53:

"The last two weeks have been alive with signs and tokens,
saying `Spring is coming, Spring is here.'  And though this
may not be the `merry month of May,' yet it is the time of
glorious Golden Wattle,--wattle waving by the river's bank,
nodding aloft its soft plumes of yellow and its gleaming golden
oriflamme, or bending low to kiss its own image in the brown
waters which it loves."

<hw>Goodenia</hw>, n. the scientific and popular name of
a genus of Australian plants, closely resembling the
Gentians; there are many species.  The name was given by
Sir James Smith, president of the Linnaean Society, in 1793.
See quotation.

1793.  `Transactions of the Linn.can Society,' vol. ii. p. 346:

"I [Smith] have given to this . . . genus the name of Goodenia,
in honour of . . . Rev. Dr. Goodenough, treasurer of
this Society, of whose botanical merits . . . example of
Tournefort, who formed Gundelia from Gundelscheimer."

[Dr. Goodenough became Bishop of Carlisle; he was the
grandfather of Commodore Goodenough.]

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 188:

"A species of Goodenia is supposed to be used by the
native gins to cause their children to sleep on long journeys,
but it is not clear which is used."

<hw>Goodletite</hw>, n. scientific name for a matrix in
which rubies are found.  So named by Professor Black of
Dunedin, in honour of his assistant, William Goodlet, who was
the first to discover the rubies in the matrix, on the west
coast.

1894.  `Grey River Argus,' September:

"Several sapphires of good size and colour have been found,
also rubies in the matrix--Goodletite."

<hw>Goondie</hw>, n. a native hut.  Gundai = a
shelter in the Wiradhuri dialect.  It is the same word as
Gunyah (q.v.).

1890.  Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xvii. p. 204:

"There were a dozen `goondies' to be visited, and the inmates
started to their work."

<hw>Goose</hw>, n. English bird-name.  The Australian
species are--

Cape Barren Goose--
 Cereopsis novae-hollandiae, Lath.  [Gould (`Birds of
Australia,' vol. vii. pl. 1) calls it the Cereopsis Goose, or
Cape Barren Goose of the Colonists.]

Maned G. (or Wood-duck, q.v.)--
 Branta jubata, Lath.

Pied G.--
 Anseranus melanoleuca, Lath.
  Called also Magpie-Goose and Swan-Goose.

1843.  J. Backhouse, `Narrative of a Visit to the Australian
 Colonies,' p. 75:

"Five pelicans and some Cape Barren Geese were upon the beach
of Preservation Island [Bass Strait]."

<hw>Goose-teal</hw>, n. the English name for a very
small goose of the genus Nettapus.  The Australian
species are--

Green,--
  Nettapus pulchellus, Gould;

White-quilled,--
 N. albipennis, Gould.

<hw>Gooseberry-tree</hw>, Little, n. name given to the
Australian tree Buchanania mangoides, F. v. M., N.O.
Anacardiaceae.

1847.  L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition, p. 479:

"My companions had, for several days past, gathered the unripe
fruits of Coniogeton arborescens, R. Br., which, when
boiled, imparted an agreeable acidity to the water. . . .  When
ripe, they became sweet and pulpy, like gooseberries. . . .
This resemblance induced us to call the tree `the little
gooseberry-tree.'  "

<hw>Gordon Lily</hw>, n. See under Lily.

<hw>Gouty-stem</hw>, n. the Australian
Baobab-tree (q.v.), Adansonia gregori, F. v. M.
According to Maiden (p. 60), Sterculia rupestris,
Benth., is also called Gouty-stem, on account of the
extraordinary shape of the trunk.  Other names of this tree are
the Sour-gourd, and the Cream-of-tartar tree.

1846.  J. L. Stokes, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. II. c. iii.
p. 115:

"The gouty-stem tree . . . bears a very fragrant white flower, not
unlike the jasmine." [Illustration given at p. 116.]

1865.  Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery and
Exploration of Australia,' vol. i. p. 2S9 [Note]:

"This tree is distinguished by the extraordinary swollen
appearance of the stem, which looks as though the tree were
diseased or the result of a freak of nature.  The youngest as
well as the oldest trees have the same deformed appearance, and
inside the bark is a soft juicy pulp instead of wood, which is
said to be serviceable as an article of food.  The stem of the
largest tree at Careening Bay was twenty-nine feet in girth; it
is named the Adansonia digitata.  A species is found in
Africa.  In Australia it occurs only on the north coast."

<hw>Government</hw>, n. a not unusual contraction of
"Government service," used by contractors and working men.

<hw>Government men</hw>, n. an obsolete euphemistic name
for convicts, especially for assigned servants (q.v.).

1846.  G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,' p. 122:

"Three government men or convicts."

1852.  J. West, `History of Tasmania,' vol. ii. p. 127:

"Government men, as assigned servants were called."

<hw>Government stroke</hw>, n. a lazy style of doing
work, explained in quotations.  The phrase is not dead.

1856.  W. W. Dobie, `Recollections of a Visit to Port Phillip,'
p. 47:

"Government labourers, at ten shillings a-day, were breaking
stones with what is called `the Government stroke,' which is a
slow-going, anti-sweating kind of motion. . . ."

1873.  A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' c. ix.  [near
end]  p. 163:

"In colonial parlance the government stroke is that light and
easy mode of labour--perhaps that semblance of labour--which no
other master will endure, though government is forced to put up
with it."

1893.  `Otago Witness,' December 2r, p. 9, col. 1:

"The government stroke is good enough for this kind of job."

1897.  `The Argus,' Feb.  22, p. 4, col. 9:

"Like the poor the unemployed are always with us, but they have
a penchant for public works in Melbourne, with a good daily pay
and the `Government stroke' combined."

<hw>Grab-all</hw>, n. a kind of net used for marine
fishing near the shore.  It is moored to a piece of floating
wood, and by the Tasmanian Government regulations must have a
mesh of 2 1/4 inches.

1883.  Edward O. Cotton, `Evidence before Royal Commission on
the Fisheries of Tasmania,' p. 82:

"Put a graball down where you will in `bell-rope' kelp, more
silver trumpeter will get in than any other fish."

1883.  Ibid. p. xvii:

"Between sunrise and sunset, nets, known as `graballs,' may be
used."

<hw>Grammatophore</hw>, n. scientific name for "an
Australian agamoid lizard, genus Grammatophora."
(`Standard.')

<hw>Grape, Gippsland</hw>, n. called also Native
Grape.  An Australian fruit tree, Vitis hypoglauca,
F. v. M., N.O. Viniferae; called Gippsland Grape in
Victoria.

1889.  J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 66:

"Native grape; Gippsland grape.  This evergreen climber yields
black edible fruits of the size of cherries.  This grape would
perhaps be greatly improved by culture.  (Mueller.)"

<hw>Grape, Macquarie Harbour</hw>, or <hw>Macquarie Harbour
Vine</hw> (q.v.), n. name given to the climbing shrub
Muehlenbeckia adpressra, Meissn. N.O. Polygonaceae.
Called Native Ivy in Australia.  See under Ivy.

<hw>Grape-eater</hw>, n. a bird, called formerly
Fig-eater, now known as the Green-backed
White-eye (q.v.), Zosterops gouldi, Bp.

1848.  J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iv. pl. 82:

"Zosterops chloronotus, Gould, Green-backed Z.;
Grape and Fig-eater, Colonists of Swan River."

<hw>Grass</hw>, n. In Australia, as elsewhere, the name
Grass is sometimes given to plants which are not of the
natural order Gramineae, yet everywhere it is chiefly to
this natural order that the name is applied.  A fair proportion
of the true Grasses common to many other countries in
the world, or confined, on the one hand to temperate zones, or
on the other to tropical or sub-tropical regions, are also
indigenous to Australia, or Tasmania, or New Zealand, or
sometimes to all three countries.  In most cases such grasses
retain their Old World names, as, for instance,
Barnyard- or Cock-spur Grass (Panicum
crus-galli, Linn.); in others they receive new Australian
names, as Ditch Millet (Paspalum scrobitulatum,
F. v. M.), the `Koda Millet' of India; and still again certain
grasses named in Latin by scientific botanists have been
distinguished by a vernacular English name for the first time
in Australia, as Kangaroo Grass (Anhistiria
ciliata, Linn.), which was "long known before Australia
became colonized, in South Asia and all Africa" (von Muller),
but not by the name of the Kangaroo.

Beyond these considerations, the settlers of Australia, whose
wealth depends chiefly on its pastoral occupation, have
introduced many of the best Old-World pasture grasses (chiefly
of the genera Poa and Festuca), and many
thousands of acres are said to be "laid down with English
grass."  Some of these are now so wide-spread in their
acclimatization, that the botanists are at variance as to
whether they are indigenous to Australia or not; the Couch
Grass, for instance (Cynodon dactylon, Pers.), or
Indian Doub Grass, is generally considered to be an
introduced grass, yet Maiden regards it as indigenous.

There remain, "from the vast assemblage of our grasses, even
some hundred indigenous to Australia" (von Muller), and a like
number indigenous to New Zealand, the greater proportion of
which are endemic.  Many of these, accurately named in Latin
and described by the botanists, have not yet found their
vernacular equivalents; for the bushman and the settler do not
draw fine botanical distinctions.  Maiden has classified and
fully described 158 species as "Forage Plants," of which over
ninety have never been christened in English.  Mr. John
Buchanan, the botanist and draughtsman to the Geographical
Survey of New Zealand, has prepared for his Government a
`Manual of the Indigenous Grasses of New Zealand,' which
enumerates eighty species, many of them unnamed in English, and
many of them common also to Australia and Tasmania.  These two
descriptive works, with the assistance of Guilfoyle's Botany
and Travellers' notes, have been made the basis of the
following list of all the common Australian names applied to
the true Grasses of the N.O. Gramineae.  Some of
them of very special Australian character appear also elsewhere
in the Dictionary in their alphabetical places, while a few
other plants, which are grasses by name and not by nature,
stand in such alphabetical place alone, and not in this list.
For facility of comparison and reference the range and habitat
of each species is indicated in brackets after its name; the
more minute limitation of such ranges is not within the scope
of this work.  The species of Grass present in
Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand are--

1. Alpine Rice Grass--
 Ehrharta colensoi, Cook.  (N.Z.)

2. Alpine Whorl G.--
 Catabrosa antarctica, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

3. Bamboo G.--
 Glyceria ramigera, F. v. M. (A.)
  Called also Cane Grass.
 Stipa verticillata, Nees.(A.)

4. Barcoo G. (of Queensland)--
 Anthistiria membranacea, Lindl. (A.)
  Called also Landsborough Grass.

5. Barnyard G.--
 Panicum crus-galli, Linn. (A., not endemic.)
  Called also Cockspur Grass.

6. Bayonet G.--
  Aciphylla colensoi.(N.Z.)
   Called also Spear-Grass (see 112), and
  Spaniard (q.v.).

7. Bent G.--Alpine--
 Agrostis muellerii, Benth. (A., N.Z., not endemic.)
 Deyeuxia setifolia, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

8. Bent G.--Australian--
 Deyeuxia scabra, Benth. (A., T., N.Z.)

9. Bent G.--Billardiere's--
 D. billardierii, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

10.  Bent G.--Brown--
 Agrostis carina, Linn. (N.Z.)

11. Bent G.--Campbell Island--
 A. antarctica, Hook. f.  (N.Z.)

12. Bent G.--Dwarf Mountain--
 A. subululata, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

13. Bent G.--Oat-like--
 Deyeuxia avenoides, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

14. Bent G.--Pilose--
 D. pilosa, Rich. (N.Z.)

15. Bent G.--Slender--
 Agrostis scabra, Willd. (A., T., N.Z.)

16. Bent G.--Spiked--
 Deyeuxia quadriseta, R. Br.  (A., T., N.Z.)
 Called also Reed Grass.

17. Bent G.--Toothea--
 D. forsteri, Kunth. (A., T., N.Z.)

18. Bent G.--Young's--
 D. youngii, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

19. Blady G.--
 Ipperata arundinacea, Cyr. (A.)

20. Blue G.--
 Andropogon annulatus, Forst. (A.)
 A. pertusus, Willd. (A.)
 A. sericeus, R. Br. (A.)

21. Brome G.--Seaside.--
 8romus arenarius, Labill. (A., N.Z.)
  Called also Wild Oats.

22. Canary G.--
 Phalaris canariensis. (A.)

23. Cane G.--
 (i.q. Bamboo Grass.  See 3.)

24. Chilian G.--
 (i.q. Rat--tailed Grass.  See 97.)

25. Cockspur G.--
 (i.q. Barnyard Grass.  See 5.)

26. Couch G.--
 Cynodon dactylon, Pers. (A., not endemic.)
  Called also Indian Doub Grass.

27. Couch G.--Native--
 Distichlys maritima, Raffinesque. (A.)

28. Couch G.--Water--
 (i.q. Seaside Millet.  See 50.)

29. Feather G.--
 (Several species of Stipa.  See 101.)

30. Fescue G.--Hard--
 Festuca duriuscula, Linn. (Australasia, not endemic.)

31. Fescue G.--Poa-like--
 F. scoparia, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

32. Fescue G.--Sandhill--
 F. littoralis, R. Br., var. triticoides,
 Benth. (A., T., N.Z.)

33. Fescue G.--Sheeps'--
 F. ovina, Linn. (A., T.)

34. Finger G.--Cocksfoot--
 Panicum sanguinale, Linn. (A., not endemic.)
  Called also Hairy Finger Grass, and Reddish Panic
  Grass.

35. Finger G.--Egyptian--
 Eleusine aegyptica, Pers. (A., not endemic.)

36. Finger G.--Hairy--
 (i.q .Cocksfoot Finger Grass.  See 33.)

37. Foxtail G.--
 (i.q. Knee jointed Foxtazl Grass.  See 42.)

38. Hair G.--Crested--
 Koeleria cristata, Pers. (A., T., N.Z.)

39. Hair G.--Turfy--
 Deschampia caespitosa, Beavo.  (N.Z., not endemic.)

40. Holy G.--
 Hierochloe alpina, Roem. & Schult.  (Australasia, not
  endemic.)

41. Indian Doub G.--
 (i.q. Couch Grass.  See 26.)

42. Kangaroo G. (A., T., not endemic)--
 Andropogon refractus, R. Br.
 Anthistiria avenacea, F. v. M. (Called also Oat
 Grass.)
 A. ciliata, Linn. (Common K.G.)
 A. frondosa, R. Br. (Broad-leaved K.G.)

43. Knee-jointed Fox-tail G.--
 Alopecurus geniculatus, Linn. (Australasia, not
 endemic.)

44. Landsborough G.--
 (i.q. Barcoo Grass.  See 4.)

45. Love G.--Australian--
 Eragrostis brownii, Nees. (A.)

46. Manna G.--
 Glyceria fluitans, R. Br. (A.,T.)

47. Millet--Australian--
 Panicum decompositum, R. Br. (A., not endemic.)
  Called also Umbrella Grass.

48. Millet--Ditch--
 Paspalum scrobitulatum, F. v. M. (A., N.Z., not endemic.)
  The Koda Millet of India.

49. Millet--Equal-glumed--
 Isachne australis, R. Br. (A., N.Z., not endemic.)

50. Millet-Seaside--
 Paspalum distichum, Burmann. (A., N.Z., not endemic.)
  Called also Silt Grass, and Water Couch Grass.

51. Mitchell G.--
 Astrebla elymoides, F. v. M. (A., True Mitchell
   Grass.)
 A. pectinata, F. v. M. (A.)
 A. tritzcoides, F. v. M. (A.)

52.  Mouse G.--
 (i.q.) Longhaired Plume Grass.  See 72.)

53.  Mulga G.--
 Danthonia racemosa, R. Br. (A.)
 Neurachnea Mitchelliana, Nees. (A.)

54. New Zealand Wind G.--
 Apera arundinacea, Palisot. (N.Z., not endemic.)

55. Oat G.--
 Anthistiria avenacea, F. v. M. (Called also Kangaroo
  Grass.  See 41.)

56. Oat G.--Alpine--
 Danthonia semi-annularis, R. Br., var. alpina.
  (N.Z.)

57. Oat G.--Buchanan's--
 D. buchanii; Hook. f. (N.Z.)

58. Oat G.--Few-flowered--
 D. pauciflora, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

59. Oat G.--Hard--
 D. pilosa, R. Br., var. stricta. (N.Z.)

60. Oat G.--Naked--
 D. nuda, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

61. Oat G.--New Zealand--
 D. semi-annularis, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

62. Oat G.--Purple-awned--
 D. pilosa, R. Br. (A., T., N.Z.)

63. Oat G.--Racemed--
 D. pilosa, R. Br., var. racemosa. (N.Z.)

64. Oat G.--Shining--
 Trisetum antarcticum, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

65. Oat G.--Sheep--
 Danthonia semi-annularis, R. Br., var. gracilis.(N.Z.)

66. Oat G.--Spiked--
 Trisetum subspicatum, Beauv. (Australasia, not
 endemic.)

67. Oat G.--Thompson's Naked--
 Danthonia thomsonii (new species).

68. Oat G.--Wiry-leaved--
 D. raoulii, Steud, var. Australis, Buchanan. (N.Z.)

69. Oat G.--Young's--
  Trisetum youngii, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

70. Panic G.--Reddish--
 (i.q. Cocksfoot Finger-Grass.  See 34.)

71. Panic G.--Slender--
 Oplismenus salarius, var. Roem. and Schult. (A., N.Z.,
  not endemic.)

72. Paper G.--Native--
 Poa caespitosa, Forst. (A., T., N.Z.)
  Called also Wiry Grass, Weeping Polly,
  and Tussock Poa Grass; and, in New Zealand,
  Snow Grass.

73.  Plume G.--Long-haired--
 Dichelachne crinita, Hook. f. (A., T., N.Z.)

74. Plume G.--Short-haired--
 D. sciurea, Hook. f. (A., T., N.Z.)

75. Poa G.--Auckland Island--
 Poa foliosa, Hook. f., var. a. (N.Z.)

76. Poa G.--Brown-flowered--
 P. lindsayi, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

77. Poa G.--Brown Mountain
 P. mackayi (new species).  (N.Z.)

78. Poa G.--Colenso's--
 P. colensoi, Hook. f.(N.Z.) 79.

79. Poa G.--Common Field--
 P. anceps, Forst., var. b, foliosa, Hook. f.
  (N.Z.)

80. Pea G.--Dense-flowered
 P. anceps, Forst., var. d, densiflora,
  Hook. f. (N.Z.)

81. Poa G.--Dwarf--
 P. pigmaea (new species). (N.Z.)

82. Pea G.--Hard short-stemmed--
 P. anceps, Forst., var. c, brevicalmis,
  Hook. f. (N.Z.)

83.  Poa G.--Kirk's--
 P. kirkii (new species). (N.Z.)

84. Poa G.--Large-flowered--
 P. foliosa, Hook. f., var. B. (N.Z.)

85. Poa G.--Little--
 P. exigua, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

86. Poa G.--Minute--
 P, foliosa, Hook. f., var. C. (N.Z.)

87. Poa G.--Minute Creeping--
 P. pusilla, Berggren. (N.Z.)

88. Pea G.--Nodding Plumed--
 P. anceps, Forst., var. A, elata,
  Hook. f. (N.Z.)

89. Poa G.--One-flowered--
 P. unifora (new species). (N.Z.)

90.  Poa G.--Short-glumed--
 P. breviglumus, Hook. f.(N.Z.)

91. Poa G.--Slender--
 P. anceps, Forst., var. E, debilis, Kirk,
  Ms. (N.Z.)

92. Poa G.--Small Tussock--
 P. intemedia (new species). (N.Z.)

93.  Poa G.--Tussock--
 P. caespitosa, Forst. (A., T., N.Z.  See 71.)

94. Poa G.--Weak-stemmed--
 Eragrostis imbebecilla, Benth.  (A., N.Z.)

95. Poa G.--White-flowered--
 Poa sclerophylla, Berggren. (N.Z.)

96. Porcupine G. (q.v.)--
 Triodia (various species).

97. Rat-tailed G.--
 Sporobulus indicus, R. Br. (A., N.Z., not endemic.)
    Called also Chilian Grass.
 Ischaeum laxum, R. Br. (A.)

98. Reed G.--
 Pragmites communis, Trin. (N.Z.  See 16.)

99. Rice G.--
 Leersia hexandria, Swartz. (A.)

100.  Rice G.--Bush--
 Microtaena avenacea, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

101. Rice G.--Knot-jointed--
 M. polynoda, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

102. Rice G.--Meadow--
 M. stipoides, R. Br. (A.,T., N.Z.)
  Called also Weeping Grass.

103. Roly-Poly G.--
 Panicum macractinum, Benth. (A.)

104. Rough-bearded G.--
 Echinopogon ovatus, Palisot. (A., T., N.Z.)

105. Sacred G.--
 Hierochloe redolens, R. Br. (Australasia, not endemic.)
   Called also Scented Grass, and Sweet-scented
   Grass.

106. Scented G.--
 Chrysopogon parviforus, Benth. (A.)  See also 105.

107. Seaside Brome G.--
 (i.q. Brome Grass.  See 21.)

108. Silt G.--
 (i.q. Seaside Millet.  See 50.)

109. Seaside Glumeless G.--
 Gymnostychum gracile, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

110. Snow G. (q.v.)--
 (i.q. Paper Grass.  See 72.) (N.Z.)

111. Spear G. (q.v.)--
 Aciphylla colensoi. (N.Z.)
  Called also Spaniard (q.v.).
 Heteropogon contortus, Roem. and Shult. (N.Z.),
  and all species of Stipa (A., T.).

112. Spider G.--
 Panicum divaricatissimum, R. Br. (A.)

113. Spinifex G. (q.v.)--
 Spinifex hirsutus, Labill. (A., T., N.Z., not endemic.)
  Called also Spiny Rolling Grass.

114. Star G.--Blue--
 Chloris ventricosa, R. Br. (A.)

115. Star G.--Dog's Tooth--
 C. divaricata, R. Br. (A.)

116. Star G.--Lesser--
 C. acicularis, Lindl. (A.)

117. Sugar G.--
 Pollinia fulva, Benth.(A.)

118. Summer G.--
 (i.q. Hairy-Finger Grass.  See 36.)

119. Sweet G.--
 Glyceria stricta, Hook. f. (A., T., N.Z.)

120.  Sweet-scented G.--
 (i.q. Sacred Grass.  See 105.)

121. Traveller's G. (N.O. Aroideae).--
 (i.q. Settlers' Twine, q.v.)

122. Tussock G.--
 (See 93 and 72.)

123. Tussock G.-- Broad-leaved Oat--
 Danthonia flavescens, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

124. Tussock G.--Erect Plumed--
 Arundo fulvida, Buchanan. (N.Z.) Maori name,
  Tot-toi (q.v.).

125. Tussock G.--Narrow-leaved Oat--
 Danthonia raoulii, Steud. (N.Z.)

126. Tussock G.--Plumed--
 Arundo conspicua, A. Cunn. (N.Z.) Maori name,
 Toi-toi (q.v.).

127. Tussock G.--Small-flowered Oat--
 Danthonia cunninghamii, Hook. f. (N.Z.)

128. Petrie's Stipa G.--
 Stipa petriei (new species).  See 101. /?111?/ (N.Z.)

129. Umbrella G.--
 (i.q. Australian Millet.  See 47.)

130. Wallaby G.--
 Danthonia penicileata, F. v. M. (A., N.Z.)

131. Weeping G.--
 (i.q. Meadow Rice Grass.  See 102.)

132.  Weeping Polly G.--
 (i.q. Paper Grass.  See 72.)

133. Wheat G.--Blue--
 Agropyrum scabrum, Beauv. (A., T., N.Z.)

134. Wheat G.--Short-awned--
 Triticum multiflorum, Banks and Sol. (N.Z.)

135. White-topped G.--
 Danthonia longifolia, R. Br. (A.)

136. Windmill G.--
 Chloris truncata, R. Br. (A.)

137. Wire G.--
 Ehrharta juncea, Sprengel; a rush-like grass of hilly
  country. (A., T., N.Z.)
 Cynodon dactylum, Pers.; so called from its knotted,
  creeping, wiry roots, so difficult to eradicate in gardens
  and other cultivated land.  (Not endemic.)  See 26.

138. Wiry G.--.
 (i.q. Paper Grass.  See 72.)

139. Wiry Dichelachne G.--
 Stipa teretefolia, Steud.  (A., T., N.Z.)

140. Woolly-headed G.--
 Andropogon bombycinus, R. Br. (A.)

141. Vandyke G.--
 Panicum flavidum, Retz. (A.)

<hw>Grass-bird</hw>, n. In New Zealand, Sphenoeacus
//sic. otherwhere Sphenaeacus GJC// punctatus, Gray, the
same as Fern-bird (q.v.); in Australia, Megalurus
(Sphenaeacus) gramineus, Gould.

<hw>Grass-leaved Fern</hw>, n. Vittaria elongata,
Swartz, N.O. Filices.

1883.  F. M. Bailey, `Synopsis of Queensland Flora,' p. 693:

"Grass-leaved fern. . . .  Frond varying in length from a few
inches to several feet, and with a breadth of from one to five
lines. . . .  This curious grass-like fern may be frequently
seen fringing the stems of the trees in the scrubs of tropical
Queensland, in which situation the fronds are usually very
long."

<hw>Grass-Parrakeet</hw>, n. a bird of the genus
Euphema.  The Australian species are--

Blue-winged Parrakeet
 Euphema aurantia, Gould.

Bourke's P.--
 E. bourkii, Gould.

Grass-P.--
 E. elegans, Gould.

Orange-bellied P.--
 E. chrysogastra, Lath.

Orange-throated P.--
 E. splendida, Gould.

Red-shouldered P.--
 E. pulchella, Shaw.

Warbling Grass-P.--
  Gould's name for Budgerigar (q.v.).

See also Rock-Parrakeet (Euphema petrophila, Gould),
which is sometimes classed as a Grass-Parrakeet.

<hw>Grass-tree</hw>, n. (2) The name applied to trees
of the genus Xanthorrhoea, N.O. Liliaceae, of which
thirteen species are known in Australia.  See also
Richea.

(2) In New Zealand Pseudopanax crassifolium, Seemann,
N.O. Araleaceae.  When young, this is the same as
Umbrella-tree, so called from its appearance like the
ribs of an umbrella.  When older, it grows more straight and
is called Lancewood (q.v.).

(3) In Tasmania, besides two species of Xanthorrhoea
the Grass-tree of the mainland, the Richea
dracophylla, R. Br., N.O. Epacrideae, found on Mount
Wellington, near Hobart, is also known by that name, whilst
the Richea pandanifolia, Hook., found in the South-west
forests, is called the Giant Grass-tree.  Both these are
peculiar to the island.

(4) An obsolete name for Cordyline australis, Hook.,
N.O. Liliaceae, now more usually called Cabbage-
 tree (q.v.).

1802.  D. Collins, `Account of New South Wales,'
 vol. ii. p. 153:

"A grass tree grows here, similar in every respect to that
about Port Jackson."

1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 347:

"Yielding frequently a very weak and sour kind of grass,
interspersed with a species of bulrush called grass-trees,
which are universal signs of poverty.":

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' Vol II. c. iii. p. 54:

"The grass-tree is not found westward of the mountains."

1839. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions,' vol. ii. p. 303:

"We approached a range of barren hills of clay slate, on which
grew the grass-tree (Xanthorhoea) and stunted eucalypti."

1862.  H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 74:

"The shimmering sunlight fell and kissed
 The grass-tree's golden sheaves."

1867.  F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 132:

"Here and there, in moist places, arises isolated the
`grass-tree' or `cabbage-tree' (Ti of the natives; Cordyline
Australis)."

1874.  Garnet Walch, `Head over Heels,' p. 80:

"The grass-trees in front, blame my eyes,
 Seemed like plumes on the top of a hearse."

1877.  F. v. Mueller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 119:

"How strikingly different the external features of plants may
be, though floral structure may draw them into congruity, is
well demonstrated by our so-called grass-trees, which pertain
truly to the liliaceous order.  These scientifically defined
as Xanthorhoeas from the exudation of yellowish sap, which
indurates into resinous masses, have all the essential notes
of the order, so far as structure of flowers and fruits is
concerned, but their palm-like habit, together with cylindric
spikes on long and simple stalks, is quite peculiar, and
impresses on landscapes, when these plants in masses are
occuring, a singular feature."

1879.  A. R. Wallace, `Australasia' (ed. 1893), p. 52:

"The grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) are a peculiar feature
to the Australian landscape.  From a rugged stem, varying from
two to ten or twelve feet in height, springs a tuft of drooping
wiry foliage, from the centre of which rises a spike not unlike
a huge bulrush.  When it flowers in winter, this spike becomes
covered with white stars, and a heath covered with grass trees
then has an appearance at once singular and beautiful."

1882.  A. Tolmer, `Reminiscences,' vol, ii. p. 102:

"The root of the grass-tree is pleasant enough to eat, and
tastes something like the meat of the almond-tree; but being
unaccustomed to the kind of fare, and probably owing to the
empty state of our stomachs, we suffered severely from
diarrhoea."

1885.  H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia,' p. 43:

"Grass-trees are most comical-looking objects.  They have a
black bare stem, from one to eight feet high, surmounted by a
tuft of half rushes and half grass, out of which, again, grows
a long thing exactly like a huge bullrush.  A lot of them
always grow together, and a little way off they are not unlike
the illustrations of Red-Indian chiefs in Fenimore Cooper's
novels."

1889. T. Kirk, `Forest Flora of New Zealand,' p. 59:

"It [Pseudopanax crassifolium, the Horoeka] is
commonly called lance-wood by the settlers in the North Island,
and grass-tree by those in the South.  This species was
discovered during Cook's first voyage, and it need cause no
surprise to learn that the remarkable difference between the
young and mature states led so able a botanist as Dr. Solander
to consider them distinct plants."

1896.  Baldwin Spencer.  `Horne Expedition in Central
Australia,' Narrative, p. 98:

"As soon as the came upon the Plains we found ourselves in a
belt of grass trees belonging to a species not hitherto