Austral English

E (continued 2)

Reading edition

<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 described (X. Thorntoni). . . . The larger specimens have a stem some five or six feet high, with a crown of long wiry leaves and a flowering stalk, the top of which is fully twelve feet above the ground."

[Compare Blackboy and Maori-head.

<hw>Grayling</hw>, n. The Australian fish of that name is Prototroctes maroena, Gunth. It is called also the Fresh-water Herring, Yarra Herring (in Melbourne), Cucumber-Fish, and Cucumber-Mullet. The last two names are given to it from its smell. It closely resembles the English Grayling.

1880. W. Senior, `Travel and Trout,' p. 93:

"These must be the long-looked-for cucumber mullet, or fresh- water herring. . . . `The cucumber mullet,' I explain, `I have long suspected to be a grayling.'"

1882. Rev._I. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish of New South Wales,' p. 109:

"Though not a fish of New South Wales, it may be as well to mention here the Australian grayling, which in character, habits, and the manner of its capture is almost identical with the English fish of that name. In shape there is some difference between the two fish. . . . A newly caught fish smells exactly like a dish of fresh-sliced cucumber. It is widely distributed in Victoria, and very abundant in all the fresh-water streams of Tasmania. . . . In Melbourne it goes by the name of the Yarra herring. There is another species in New Zealand."

1889. Cassell's `Picturesque Australasia,' vol. iv. p. 206:

"The river abounds in delicious grayling or cucumber fish, rather absurdly designated the `herring' in this [Deloraine] and some other parts of the colony [Tasmania]."

<hw>Grebe</hw>, n. common English bird-name, of the genus Podiceps. The species known in Australia are—

Black-throated Grebe— Podiceps novae-hollandiae, Gould.

Hoary-headed G.— P. nestor, Gould.

Tippet G.— P. cristataes, Linn.

But Buller sees no reason for separating P. cristatus from the well-known P. cristatus of Europe. Some of the Grebes are sometimes called Dabchicks (q.v.).

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. ii. p. 285:

"The Crested Grebe is generally-speaking a rare bird in both islands."

<hw>Greenhide</hw>, n. See quotation. Greenhide is an English tannery term for the hide with the hair on before scouring.

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 27:

"Drivers, who walked beside their teams carrying over their shoulders a long-handled whip with thong of raw salted hide, called in the colony `greenhide.'"

<hw>Greenie</hw>, n. a school-boys' name for Ptilotis penicillata, Gould, the White-plumed Honey-eater.

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

"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."

1897. A. J. Campbell (in `The Australasian,'Jan. 23), p. 180, col. 5:

"Every schoolboy about Melbourne knows what the `greenie' is—the white-plumed honey-eater (P. penicillata). The upper-surface is yellowish-grey, and the under-surface brownish in tone. The white-plumed honey-eater is common in Victoria, where it appears to be one of the few native birds that is not driven back by civilisation. In fact, its numbers have increased in the parks and gardens in the vicinity of Melbourne."

<hw>Green-leek</hw>, n. an Australian Parrakeet. See quotation.

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. v. pl. 15:

"Polytelis Barrabandi, Wagl., Barraband's Parrakeet; Green-leek of the colonists of New South Wales."

1855. R. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 123:

"We observed m the hollow trees several nests of the little green paroquet,—here, from its colour, called the leek."

<hw>Green Lizard</hw>, n. sometimes called the Spotted Green Lizard, a New Zealand reptile, Naultinus elegans, Gray.

<hw>Green Oyster</hw>, n. name given in Queensland to the sea-weed Ulva lactuca, Linn., N.O. Algae. From being frequently found attached to oysters, this is sometimes called "Green Oyster." (Bailey.) See Oyster.

<hw>Greenstone</hw>, n. popular name of Nephrite (q.v.). Maori name, Pounamu (q.v.).

1859. A.S. Thomson, `Story of New Zealand,' p. 140:

"The greenstone composing these implements of war is called nephrite by mineralogists, and is found in the Middle Island of New Zealand, in the Hartz, Corsica, China and Egypt. The most valuable kind is clear as glass with a slight green tinge."

1889. Dr. Hocken, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,' p. 181:

"This valued stone—pounamu of the natives—nephrite, is found on the west coast of the South Island. Indeed, on Captain Cook's chart this island is called `T'Avai Poenammoo'—Te wai pounamu, the water of the greenstone."

1892. F. R. Chapman, `The Working of Greenstone by the Maoris' (New Zealand Institute), p. 4:

"In the title of this paper the word `greenstone' occurs, and this word is used throughout the text. I am quite conscious that the term is not geologically or mineralogically correct; but the stone of which I am writing is known by that name throughout New Zealand, and, though here as elsewhere the scientific man employs that word to describe a totally different class of rock, I should run the risk of being misunderstood were I to use any other word for what is under that name an article of commerce and manufacture in New Zealand. It is called `pounamu' or `poenamu' by the Maoris, and `jade,' `jadeite,' or `nephrite' by various writers, while old books refer to the `green talc' of the Maoris."

<hw>Green-tops</hw>, n. Tasmanian name for the Orchid, Pterostylis pedunculata, R. Br.

<hw>Green-tree Ant</hw>, n. common Queensland Ant.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 294:

"It was at the lower part of the Lynd that we first saw the green-tree ant; which seemed to live in small societies in rude nests between the green leaves of shady trees."

<hw>Green Tree-snake</hw>, n. See under Snake.

<hw>Grevillea</hw>, n. a large genus of trees of Australia and Tasmania, N.O. Proteaceae, named in honour of the Right Hon. Charles Francis Greville, Vice-President of the Royal Society of London. The name was given by Robert Brown in 1809. The `Century' Dictionary gives Professor Greville as the origin of the name but "Professor Robert K. Greville of Edinburgh was born on the 14th Dec., 1794, he was therefore only just fourteen years old when the genus Grevillea was established." (`Private letter from Baron F. von Mueller.')

1851. `Quarterly Review,' Dec., p. 40:

"Whether Dryandra, Grevillea, Hakea, or the other Proteaceae, all may take part in the same glee—

"It was a shrub of orders grey Stretched forth to show his leaves."

1888. Cassell's `Picturesque Australasia, vol. iii. p. 138:

"Graceful grevilleas, which in the spring are gorgeous with orange-coloured blossoms."

<hw>Grey-jumper</hw>, n. name given to an Australian genus of sparrow-like birds, of which the only species is Struthidea cinerea, Gould; also called Brachystoma and Brachyporus.

<hw>Grey Nurse</hw>, n. a New South Wales name for a species of Shark, Odontaspis americanus, Mitchell, family Lamnidae, which is not confined to Australasia.

<hw>Gridironing</hw>, v</i. a term used in the province of Canterbury, New Zealand. A man purchased land in the shape of a gridiron, knowing that nobody would take the intermediate strips, which later he could purchase at his leisure. In other provinces free-selection (q.v.) was only allowed after survey.

<hw>Grinder</hw>, n. See Razor-grinder and Dishwasher.

<hw>Groper</hw>, n. a fish. In Queensland, Oligorus terrae-reginae, Ramsay; in New Zealand, O. gigas, "called by the Maoris and colonists `Hapuku,'" (Guenther)—a large marine species. Oligorus is a genus of the family Percidae, and the Murray-Cod (q.v.) and Murray Perch (q.v.) belong to it. There is a fish called the Grouper or Groper of warm seas quite distinct from this one. See Cod, Perch, Blue-Groper and Hapuku.

<hw>Ground-berry</hw>, i.q. Cranberry (q.v.).:

<hw>Ground-bird</hw>, n. name given in Australia to any bird of the genus Cinclosoma. The species are—

Chestnut-backed Ground-bird— Cinclosoma castaneonotum, Gould.

Chestnut-breasted G.-b.— C. castaneothorax, Gould.

Cinnamon G.-b.— C. cinnamomeum, Gould.

Northern, or Black-vented G.-b.— C. marginatum, Sharpe.

Spotted G.-b.— C. punctatum, Lath., called by Gould Ground-Dove (q.v.).

<hw>Ground-Dove</hw>, n. (1) Tasmanian name for the Spotted Ground-bird (q.v.).

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iv. pl. 4:

"Cinclosoma punctatum, Vig. and Horsf., Spotted Ground-thrush. In Hobart Town it is frequently exposed for sale in the markets with bronze-wing pigeons and wattle-birds, where it is known by the name of ground-dove . . . very delicate eating."

(2) The name is given by Gould to three species of Geopelia.

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. v. pls. 72, 73, 74:

"Geopelia humeralis, Barred-shouldered Ground-dove" (pl. 72);

"G. tranquilla" (pl. 73);

"G. cuneata, Graceful Ground-dove" (pl. 74).

<hw>Ground-Lark</hw>, n. (1) In New Zealand, a bird also called by the Maori names, Pihoihoi and Hioi.

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 63:

"Anthus Novae Zelandiae, Gray, New Zealand Pipit; Ground-Lark of the Colonists."

(2) In Australia, the Australian Pipit (Anthus australis) is also called a Ground-lark.

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 73:

"Anthus Australis, Vig. and Horsf., Australian Pipit. The Pipits, like many other of the Australian birds, are exceedingly perplexing."

<hw>Ground-Parrakeet</hw>, n. See Parrakeet and Pezoporus.

<hw>Ground-Parrot</hw>, n. (1) The bird Psittacus pulchellus, Shaw. For the Ground Parrot of New Zealand, see Kakapo.

1793. G. Shaw, `Zoology [and Botany] of New Holland,' p. 10:

"Long-tailed green Parrot, spotted with black and yellow,. . . the Ground Parrot."

1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. xv. p. 278:

"The settlers call it ground-parrot. It feeds upon the ground."

Ibid. p. 286:

"What is called the ground-parrot at Sydney inhabits the scrub in that neighbourhood."

1859. H. Kingsley, `Geoffrey Hamlyn,' p. 298:

"The ground-parrot, green, with mottlings of gold and black, rose like a partridge from the heather, and flew low."

(2) Slang name for a small farmer. See Cockatoo, n. (2).

<hw>Ground-Thrush</hw>, n. name of birds found all over the world. The Australian species are—

Geocincla lunulata, Lath.

Broadbent Ground-Thrush— G. cuneata.

Large-billed G.— G. macrorhyncha, Gould.

Russet-tailed G.— G. heinii, Cab.

<hw>Grub</hw>, v. to clear (ground) of the roots. To grub has long been English for to dig up by the roots. It is Australian to apply the word not to the tree but to the land.

1852. Mrs. Meredith, `My Home in Tasmania,' vol. i. p. 185:

"Employed with others in `grubbing' a piece of new land which was heavily timbered."

1868. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Memory of 1834,' p. 10:

"A bit of land all grubbed and clear'd too."

<hw>Guana</hw>, or <hw>Guano</hw>, n. i.q. Goanna (q.v.).

<hw>Guard-fish</hw>, n. Erroneous spelling of Garfish (q.v.).

<hw>Gudgeon</hw>, n. The name is given in New South Wales to the fish Eleotris coxii, Krefft, of the family of the Gobies.

<hw>Guitar Plant</hw>, a Tasmanian shrub, Lomatia tinctoria, R. Br., N.O. Proteaceae.

<hw>Gull</hw>, n. common English name for a sea-bird. The Australian species are—

Long-billed Gull— Larus longirostris, Masters.

Pacific G.— L. pacificus, Lath.

Silver G.— L. novae-hollandiae, Steph.

Torres-straits G.— L. gouldi, Bp.

<hw>Gully</hw>, n. a narrow valley. The word is very common in Australia, and is frequently used as a place name. It is not, however, Australian. Dr.Skeat (`Etymological Dictionary') says, "a channel worn by water." Curiously enough, his first quotation is from `Capt. Cook's Third Voyage,' b. iv. c. 4. Skeat adds, "formerly written gullet: `It meeteth afterward with another gullet,' i.e. small stream. Holinshed, `Description of Britain,' c. 11: F. goulet, `a gullet . . . a narrow brook or deep gutter of water.' (Cotgrave.) Thus the word is the same as gullet." F. goulet is from Latin gula. Gulch is the word used in the Pacific States, especially in California.

1773. `Hawkesworth's Voyages,' vol. iii. p. 532—Captain Cook's First Voyage, May 30, 1770:

"The deep gullies, which were worn by torrents from the hills."

1802. D. Collins, `Account of New South Wales,' vol. ii. p. 214:

"A man, in crossing a gully between Sydney and Parramatta, was, in attempting to ford it, carried away by the violence of the torrent, and drowned."

1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 17:

"The gums in the gully stand gloomy and stark."

1867. A.L. Gordon, `Sea-spray, etc.,' p. 134:

"The gullies are deep and the uplands are steep."

1875. Wood and Lapham, `Waiting for the Mail,' p. 16:

"The terrible blasts that rushed down the narrow gully, as if through a funnel."

<hw>Gully-raker</hw>, n. a long whip.

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 40:

"The driver appealing occasionally to some bullock or other by name, following up his admonition by a sweeping cut of his `gully-raker,' and a report like a musket-shot."

<hw>Gum</hw>, or <hw>Gum-tree</hw>, n. the popular name for any tree of the various species of Eucalyptus. The word Gum is also used in its ordinary English sense of exuded sap of certain trees and shrubs, as e.g. Wattle-gum (q.v.) in Australia, and Kauri-gum (q.v.) in New Zealand. In America, the gum-tree usually means "the Liquidambar styraciflua, favourite haunt of the opossum and the racoon, whence the proverbial possum up a gum-tree." (`Current Americanisms,' s.v. Gum)

The names of the various Australian Gum-trees are as follows—

Apple Gum, or Apple-scented Gum— Eucalyptus stuartiana, F. v. M.

Bastard G.— Eucalyptus gunnii, Hook.

Bastard Blue G.— E. leucoxylon, F. v. M. (South Australia).

Bastard White G.— E. gunnii, Hook. (South Australia); E. radiata (Tasmania).

Black G.— E. stellulata, Sieb.

Black-butted G.— E. pillularis, Smith (Victoria); E. regnans, F. v. M. (New South Wales). See Blackbutt.

Blue G. [see also Blue-Gum] E. botryoides, Smith (New South Wales); E. diversicolor, F. v. M. [Karri]; E. globulus, Labill.; E. goniocalyx, F. v. M.; E. leucoxylon, F. v. M. (South Australia) [Ironbark]; E. saligna, Smith; E. tereticornis, Smith; E. viminalis, Labill. (West New South Wales).

Botany Bay G,— E. resinifera, Smith.

Brittle G.— E. haemastonza, Smith; E. micrantha, Smith.

Brown G.— E. robusta, Smith.

Cabbage G.— E. sieberiana, F. v. M. (Braidwood, New South Wales).

Cider G.— E. gunnii, Hook. (Tasmania).

Citron-scented G.— E. maculata, Hook.

Creek G.— E. rostrata, Schlecht (West New South Wales).

Curly White G.— E. radiata (Tasmania).

Dark Red G.— E. rostrata, Schlecht.

Desert G.— E. eudesmoides, F. v. M. (Central Australia); E. gracilis, F. v. M.

Drooping G.— E. pauciflora, Sieb. (Drooping Gum in Tasmania is E. risdoni, Hook., N.O. Myrtaceae; the tree is peculiar to Tasmania); E. viminalis, Labill. (New South Wales).

Flood, or Flooded G.— E. gunnii, Hook. (Bombala, New South Wales); E. microtheca, F. v. M. (Carpentaria and Central Australia); E. rostrata, Schlecht; E. saligna, Smith; E. tereticornis, Smith (New South Wales).

Fluted G.- E. salubris, F. v. M.

Forest G.— E. rostrata, Schlecht (South Australia).

Giant G.— E. amygdalina, Labill.

Gimlet G.— E. salubris, F. v. M.

Green G.— E. stellulata, Sieb. (East Gippsland).

Grey G.— E. crebra, F. v. M.; E. goniocalyx, F. v. M. (New South Wales, east of Dividing range); E. punctata, De C. (South Coast of New South Wales); E. raveretiana, F.v.M; E. resinifera, Smith; E. saligna, Smith (New South Wales); E. tereticornis, Smith (New South Wales); E. viminalis, Labill (Sydney);

Honey-scented G.— E. melliodora, Cunn.

Iron G.— E. raveretiana, F. v. M.

Lemon-scented, or Lemon G.— E. citriodora, Hook. f.

Lead G.— E. stellulata, Cunn.

Mallee G.— E. dumosa (generally called simply Mallee, q.v.).

Mountain G.— E. tereticornis, Smith (South New South Wales).

Mountain White G.— E. pauciflora, Sieb. (Blue Mountains).

Nankeen G.— E. populifolia, Hook. (Northern Australia).

Olive Green G.— E. stellulata, Cunn. (Leichhardt's name).

Pale Red G.— E. rostrata, Schlecht.

Peppermint G.— E. viminalis, Labill.

Poplar-leaved G.— E. polyanthema, Schau.

Red G.— E. amygdalina, Labill. (Victoria); E. calophylla, R. Br.; E. gunnii, Hook. (Bombala); E. melliodora, Cunn. (Victoria); E. odorata, Behr (South Australia); E. punctata, De C.; E. resinifera, Smith; E. rostrata, Schlecht; E. stuartiana, F. v. M. (Tasmania); E. tereticornis, Smith (New South Wales).

Ribbon G.— E. amygdalina, Labill. Ribbony G. E. viminalis, Labill.

Risdon G.— E. amygdalina, Labill.

River G.— E. rostrata, Schlecht (New South Wales, Queensland, and Central Australia).

River White G.— E. radiata.

Rough-barked, or Rough G.— E. botryoides, Smith (Illawarra).

Rusty G.— E. eximia, Schau.

Scribbly G.— E. haemastoma, Smith.

Scribbly Blue G.— E. leucoxylon, F. v. M. (South Australia).

Scrub G.— E. cosmophylla, F. v. M.

Slaty G.— E. saligna, Smith (New South Wales); E. tereticornis, Smith (New South Wales and Queensland); E. largiflorens, F. v. M.

Spotted G.— E. capitellata, Smith (New England); E. goniocalyx, F. v. M.; E. haemastonza, Smith; E. maculata, Hook.

Sugar G.— E. corynocalyx, F. v. M.; E. gunnii, Hook.

Swamp G.— E. gunnii, Hook.; E. microtheca, F. v. M.; E. pauciflora, Sieb.; E. viminalis, Labill. (Tasmania).

Weeping G.— E. pauciflora, Sieb. (Tasmania); E. viminalis, Labill. (New South Wales).

White G.— E. amygdalina, Labill.; E. gomphocephala, De C. (Western Australia); E. goniocalyx, F. v. M. ; E. haemastoma, Smith; E. hemiphloia, F. v. M. (Sydney); E. leucoxylon, F. v. M. (South Australia); E. pauciflora, Sieb.; E. populifolia, Hook. (Queensland); E. radiata (New South Wales); E. redunca, Schau. (Western Australia); E. robusta, Schlecht. (South Australia); E. saligna, Smith (New South Wales); E. stellulata, Cunn.; E. stuartiana, F. v. M. (Victoria); E. viminalis, Labill.

White Swamp G.— E. gunnii, Hook. (South Australia).

Yellow G.— E. punctata, De C.

York G.— E. foecunda, Schau. (Western Australia).

This list has been compiled by collating many authorities. But the following note on Eucalyptus amygdalina (from Maiden's `Useful Native Plants,' p. 429) will illustrate the difficulty of assigning the vernacular names with absolute accuracy to the multitudinous species of Eucalyptus—

"Eucalyptus amygdalina, Labill., Syn. E. fissilis, F. v. M.; E. radiata, Sieb.; E. elata, Dehn.; E. tenuiramis, Miq.; E. nitida, Hook, f.; E. longifolia, Lindl. ; E. Lindleyana, DC.; and perhaps E. Risdoni, Hook, f.; E. dives, Schauer.—This Eucalypt has even more vernacular names than botanical synonyms. It is one of the `Peppermint Trees' (and variously `Narrow-leaved Peppermint,' `Brown Peppermint,' `White Peppermint,' and sometimes `Dandenong Peppermint'), and `Mountain Ashes' of the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, and also of Tasmania and Southern New South Wales. It is also called `Giant Gum' and `White Gum.' In Victoria it is one of the `Red Gums.' It is one of the New South Wales `Stringybarks,' and a `Manna Gum.' Because it is allied to, or associated with, `Stringybark,' it is also known by the name of `Messmate.' . . . A variety of this gum (E. radiata) is called in New South Wales `White Gum' or `River White Gum.' . . . A variety of E. amygdalina growing in the south coast district of New South Wales, goes by the name of `Ribbon Gum,' in allusion to the very thin, easily detachable, smooth bark. This is also E. radiata probably. A further New South Wales variety goes by the name of `Cut-tail' in the Braidwood district. The author has been unable to ascertain the meaning of this absurd designation. These varieties are, several of them, quite different in leaves, bark, and timber, and there is no species better than the present one to illustrate the danger in attempting to fit botanical names on Eucalypts when only the vernacular names are known."

Various other trees not of the genus Eucalyptus are also sometimes popularly called Gums, such as, for instance—

Broad-leaved Water Gum— Tristania suavolens, Smith.

Orange G.— Angophora lanceolata, Cave.

Water G.— Callistemon lanceolatus, DeC. Tristania laurina, R. Br. T. neriifolia, R. Br.

And others.

In addition to this, poets and descriptive writers sometimes apply epithets, chiefly denoting colour or other outward appearance, which are not names of distinct species, such as Cinnamon, Morrell, Salmon, Cable, Silver, etc. [See quotation under Silver Gum.]

1642. Abel Tasman, `Journal of the Voyage to the Unknown Southland' (Translation by J. B. Walker in `Abel J. Tasman: His Life, etc.' 1896)

[Under date Dec. 2, 1642, after describing the trees at Fredrik Hendrik's Bay (now Blackman's Bay, Forestier's Peninsula, Tasmania) 2 to 21/2 fathoms thick, 60 to 65 feet to the first branch, and with steps 5 feet apart cut in them, Tasman says that they found] "a little gum, fine in appearance, which drops out of the trees, and has a resemblance to gum lac (gomma lacca)."

1770. `Captain Cook's Journal' (ed. Wharton, 1893), p. 245:

"May 1st.—We found two sorts of gum, one sort of which is like gum dragon, and is the same, I suppose, Tasman took for gum lac; it is extracted from the largest tree in the woods.

"May 6th.—The biggest trees are as large or larger than our oaks in England, and grow a good deal like them, and yield a reddish gum; the wood itself is heavy, hard, and black like Lignum vitae."

1788. Governor Phillip (Despatch, May 15) in `Historical Records of New South Wales', vol. i. pt. ii. p. 128:

"What seeds could be collected are sent to Sir Joseph Banks, as likewise the red gum taken from the large gum-tree by tapping, and the yellow gum which is found on the dwarf palm-tree."

1789. Captain Watkin Tench, `Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay,' p. 119:

"The species of trees are few, and . . . the wood universally of so bad a grain, as almost to preclude the possibility of using it. . . . These trees yield a profusion of thick red gum (not unlike the Sanguis draconis)."

1790. J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 231:

"The red gum-tree, Eucalyptus resinifera. This is a very large and lofty tree, much exceeding the English oak in size."

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

"I have likewise seen trees bearing three different kinds of leaves, and frequently have found others, bearing the leaf of the gum-tree, with the gum exuding from it, and covered with bark of a very different kind."

1820. W. C. Wentworth, `Description of New South Wales,' p. 66:

"Full-sized gums and iron barks, alongside of which the loftiest trees in this country would appear as pigmies, with the beefwood tree, or, as it is generally termed, the forest oak, which is of much humbler growth, are the usual timber."

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i. p. 200:

"The gum-trees are so designated as a body from producing a gummy resinous matter, while the peculiarities of the bark usually fix the particular names of the species—thus the blue, spotted, black-butted, and woolly gums are so nominated from the corresponding appearance of their respective barks; the red and white gums, from their wood; and the flooded gums from growing in flooded land."

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. II. c. iii. p. 108:

"The silvery stems of the never-failing gum-trees."

1857. H. Parkes, `Murmurs of Stream,' p. 56:

"Where now the hermit gum-tree stands on the plain's heart."

1864. J. S. Moore, `Spring Life Lyrics,' p. 114:

"Amid grand old gums, dark cedars and pines."

1873. A.Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' c. xiii. p. 209:

"The eternal gum-tree has become to me an Australian crest, giving evidence of Australian ugliness. The gum-tree is ubiquitous, and is not the loveliest, though neither is it by any means the ugliest, of trees."

1877. F. v. Muller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 7:

"The vernacular name of gum-trees for the eucalypts is as unaptly given as that of most others of our native plants, on which popular appellations have been bestowed. Indeed our wattles might far more appropriately be called gum-trees than the eucalypts, because the former exude a real gum (in the chemical meaning of the word); whereas the main exudation from the stems and branches of all eucalypts hardens to a kino-like substance, contains a large proportion of a particular tannin (kino-tannic acid), and is to a great extent or entirely soluble in alcohol, thus very different from genuine gum."

1884. R. L. A. Davies, `Poems and Literary Remains,' p. 176:

"Golden, 'mid a sunlit forest, Stood the grand Titanic forms Of the conquerors of storms; Stood the gums, as if inspired, Every branch and leaflet fired With the glory of the sun, In golden robes attired, A grand priesthood of the sun."

1889. P. Beveridge, `Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina,' p. 61:

"Nearly all the eucalyptus species exude gum, which the natives utilise in the fabrication of their various weapons as Europeans do glue. The myall and mimosa also exude gum; these the natives prefer before all other kinds when obtainable, they being less brittle and more adhesive than any of the others."

i891. `Guide to Zoological Gardens, Melbourne':

"This is an exact representation of the camps which were scattered over the country not more than fifty years ago, and inhabited by the original lords of the soil. The beautiful she-oak and red-gum forest that used to clothe the slopes of Royal Park was a very favourite camping-ground of theirs, as the gum-tree was their most regular source of food supply. The hollows of this tree contained the sleek and sleepy opossum, waiting to be dragged forth to the light of day and despatched by a blow on the head. It was to the honey-laden blossoms of this tree that the noisy cockatoos and parrots used to flock. Let the kangaroo be wary and waterfowl shy, but whilst he had his beloved gum-tree, little cared the light-hearted black."

1892. `The Times,' [Reprint] `Letters from Queensland,' p. 2:

"The immense extent of gum-trees stretches indefinitely, blotting out the conception of anything but its own lightly-timbered pasture. It has not even the gloom and impressiveness which we associate in England with the name of forest land, for the trees are thinly scattered, their long leaves hang vertically from the branches, and sunlight filters through with sufficient force to promote the growth of the tussocked grass beneath. The whole would be indescribably commonplace, but that the vastness becomes at last by its own force impressive."

The following quotations illustrate special uses of the word in composition.

Apple Gum—

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 283:

"On the small flats the apple-gum grew."

Ibid. c. viii. p. 264:

"Another Eucalyptus with a scaly butt . . . but with smooth upper trunk and cordate ovate leaves, which was also new to me; we called it the Apple-gum."

Blue Gum—

1802. D.Collins, `Account of New South Wales,' vol. ii. p. 235:

"The blue gum, she-oak, and cherry-tree of Port Jackson were common here."

1832. J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' p. 22:

"The Blue Gum is found in greater abundance; it is a loose-grained heavy wood."

1851. James Mitchell, `Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land,' p. 125:

"The name blue gum appears to have been derived from the bluish gray colour of the whole plant in the earliest stages of its growth, which is occasioned by a covering of dust or bloom similar to that upon the sloe or damson."

1884. R. L. A. Davies, `Poems and Literary Remains,' p. 199:

"I love to see the blue gums stand Majestically tall; The giants of our southern woods, The loftiest of all."

Black-butted Gum—

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. II. c. viii. p. 236:

"One species . . . resembling strongly the black-butted gum."

Cable Gum—

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. II. c. iv. p. 132:

"Cable-gum . . . like several stems twisted together, abundant in interior."

Cider Gum (or Cider Tree)—

1830. Ross, `Hobart Town Almanack,' p. 119:

"That species of eucalyptus called the cider tree, from its exuding a quantity of saccharine liquid resembling molasses. Streaks of it were to be seen dripping down the bark in various parts, which we tasted, and found very palatable. The natives have a method at the proper season of grinding holes in the tree, from which the sweet juice flows plentifully, and is collected in a hole at the root. We saw some of these covered up with a flat stone, doubtless to prevent the wild animals from coming to drink it. When allowed to remain some time, and to ferment, it settles into a coarse sort of wine or cider, rather intoxicating."

Cinnamon Gum—

1893. `Sydney Morning Herald,' Aug. 19, p. 7, col. 1:

"A forest only fit for urban gnomes these twisted trunks. Here are no straight and lofty trees, but sprawling cinnamon gums, their skin an unpleasing livid red, pock-marked; saplings in white and chilly grey, bleeding gum in ruddy stains, and fire-black boles and stumps to throw the greenery into bright relief."

Drooping Gum—

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. II. c. xii. p. 387:

"The trees, which grew only in the valleys, were small kinds of banksia, wattles and drooping gums."

Flooded Gum—

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 7:

"Large flooded gum-trees (but no casuarinas) at the low banks of the lagoons."

Lemon-scented Gum—

1860. G. Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 265:

"Among the Eucalypti or gum-trees growing in New South Wales, a species named the lemon-scented gum-tree, Eucalyptus citriodora, is peculiar to the Wide Bay district, in the northern part of the colony."

Mountain Gum—

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. I. c. iii, p. 118:

"The cypresses became mixed with casuarina, box and mountain-gum."

Red Gum [see also Red-gum]—

1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' c. xi. p. 461:

"The red gum-tree. This is a very large and lofty tree, much exceeding the English oak in size."

1846. G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,' p. 33:

"Red gum, a wood which has of late years been exported to England in great quantities; it has all the properties of mahogany."

1868. W. Carleton, `Australian Nights,' p. 14:

"While she, the younger, went to fill Her red-gum pitcher at the rill."

1870. J. O. Tucker, `The Mute,' etc., p. 85:

"Then the dark savage `neath the red gum's shade Told o'er his deeds."

1890. `The Argus,' June 14, p. 4, col. I

"Those of the leaden hue are red gums."

Rough Gum—

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. I. c. iii. p. 118:

"The rough-gum abounded near the creek."

Rusty Gum—

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 48:

"The range was openly timbered with white gum, spotted gum, Iron-bark, rusty gum and the cypress pine."

Salmon Gum—

1893. `The Australasian,' Aug. 3, p. 252, col. 4:

"The chief descriptions are salmon, morrel and white gums, and gimlet-wood. The bark of the salmon gum approaches in colour to a rich golden brown, but the satin-like sheen on it has the effect of making it several shades lighter, and in the full glare of the sun it is sufficiently near a rich salmon tint to justify its name."

Silver Gum—

1888. D. Macdonald, `Gum Boughs,' p. 113:

"When so many of our Australian trees were named `gums,' a distinguishing prefix for each variety was clearly necessary, and so the words red, blue, yellow, white and scarlet, as marking some particular trait in the tree, have come into everyday use. Had the pioneer bush botanist seen at least one of those trees at a certain stage in its growth, the term `silver gum' would have found expression."

Spotted Gum—

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 11:

"Ironbark ridges here and there with spotted gum . . . diversified the sameness."

Swamp Gum—

1853. `Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land,' vol. ii, p. 132 [James Mitchell, On the Strength of Timber, etc., read Nov.12, 1851]:

"The Swamp Gum grows to the largest size of any of this family in Van Diemen's Land. Its growth is nearly twice as rapid as that of the Blue Gum: the annular layers are sometimes very large; but the bark, and the whole tree indeed, is so like the Blue Gum, as not to be easily distinguished from it in outward appearance. It grows best in moist places, which may probably have given rise to its name. Some extraordinary dimensions have been recorded of trees of this species. I lately measured an apparently sound one, and found it 21 feet in circumference at 8 feet from the ground and 87 feet to the first branches. Another was 18 1/2 feet in circumference at 10 feet from the ground, and 213 feet to the highest branch or extreme top. A third reached the height of 251 feet to the highest branch: but I am told that these are pigmies compared to the giants of even the Blue Gum species found in the southern districts."

1880. Garnet Watch, `Victoria in 1880,' p. 100:

"Groups of native trees, including the black wattle, silver box, messmate, stringy bark, and the picturesque but less useful swamp gum."

Water Gum—

1847. L. Leichhhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 387:

"Long hollows surrounded with drooping tea-trees and the white watergums."

Weeping Gum—

1852. Mrs. Meredith, `My Home in Tasmania,' vol. i. p. 169:

"A kind of Eucalyptus, with long drooping leaves, called the `Weeping Gum,' is the most elegant of the family."

White Gum—

1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. xv. p, 278:

"The natives tell me that it [the ground-parrot] chiefly breeds in a stump of a small White Gum-tree."

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 48:

"The range was openly timbered with white gum."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 471:

"E. leucoxylon, F. v. M. The `blue or white gum' of South Australia and Victoria is a gum-tree with smooth bark and light-coloured wood (hence the specific name). The flowers and fruit of E. leucoxylon are very similar to those of E. sideroxylon, and in this way two trees have been placed under one name which are really quite distinct. Baron Mueller points out that there are two well-marked varieties of E. leucoxylon in Victoria. That known as `white-gum' has the greater portion of the stem pale and smooth through the outer layers of the bark falling off. The variety known chiefly as the `Victorian Ironbark,' retains the whole bark on the stem, thus becoming deeply fissured and furrowed, and very hard and dark coloured."

Yellow Gum—

1848. T. L. Mitchell, `Tropical Australia,' p. 107:

"We this day passed a small group of trees of the yellow gum, a species of eucalyptus growing only on the poor sandy soil near Botany Bay, and other parts of the sea-coast near Sydney."

York Gum—

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. II. c. iv. p. 132:

"York gum . . . abundant in York on good soil."

<hw>Gum-</hw> (In Composition). See Gum.

1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 134:

"I said to myself in the gum-shadowed glen."

1868. W. L. Carleton, `Australian Nights,' p. 1:

"To see the gum-log flaming bright Its welcome beacon through the night."

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

"Make a bit of a shelter also. You can always do it with easily-got gum-boughs."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xvii. p. 201:

"The edge of the long, black, gum-shrouded lagoon."

<hw>Gummy</hw>, n. name given to a shark of Victorian and Tasmanian waters, Mustelus antarcticus, Gunth., and called Hound (q.v.) in New South Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand. The word Gummy is said to come from the small numerous teeth, arranged like a pavement, so different from the sharp erect teeth of most other sharks. The word Hound is the Old World name for all the species of the genus Mustelus. This fish, says Hutton, is much eaten by the Maoris.

<hw>Gum-sucker</hw>, n. slang for Victorian-born, not now much used; but it is not always limited to Victorians.

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i. p. 201:

"The acacias are the common wattles of this country; from their trunks and branches clear transparent beads of the purest Arabian gum are seen suspended in the dry spring weather, which our young currency bantlings eagerly search after and regale themselves with."

[The practice of `gum-sucking' is here noticed, though the word does not occur.]

1855. W. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 24:

"If he had not been too 'cute to be bitten twice by the over-'cute `gumsuckers,' as the native Victorians are called."

1890. `Quiz `(Adelaide), Dec. 26:

"Quiz will take good care that the innocent Australians are not fooled without a warning. Really L. and his accomplices must look upon gumsuckers as being pretty soft."

<hw>Gunyah</hw>, n. aboriginal name for a black-fellow's hut, roughly constructed of boughs and bark; applied also to other forms of shelter. The spelling varies greatly: in Col. Mundy's book (1855) there are no fewer than four forms. See Humpy and Gibber. What Leichhardt saw (see quotation 1847) was very remarkable.

1798. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New South Wales,' in an aboriginal vocabulary of Port Jackson, p. 610:

"Go-nie—a hut."

1830. R.Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 70:

"One of their gunyers (bark huts)."

Ibid. p. 171:

"A native encampment, consisting of eight or ten `gunyers.' This is the native term for small huts, which are supported by three forked sticks (about three feet long) brought together at the top in a triangular form: the two sides towards the wind are covered by long sheets of bark, the third is always left open to the wind."

1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. I. c. ii. p. 78:

"We observed a fresh-made gunneah (or native hut)."

1839. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia,' c. ii. p. 35:

"Three huts, or gunyahs, consisted of a few green boughs, which had just been put up for shelter from the rain then falling."

1845. J. O. Balfour, `Sketch of New South Wales,' p. 10:

"Their only habitation . . . is formed by two sheets of bark stripped from the nearest tree, at the first appearance of a storm, and joined together at an angle of 45 degrees. This, which they call a gunnya, is cut up for firewood when the storm has passed."

1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 238:

"Behind appears a large piece of wood hooded like a `gunnya' or `umpee.'"

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 290:

"We saw a very interesting camping place of the natives, containing several two-storied gunyas."

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."

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' ed. 1855, p. 164:

"A sloping sheet of bark turned from the wind—in bush lingo, a break-weather—or in guneeahs of boughs thatched with grass." [p. 200]: "Guneah." [p. 558]: "Gunneah." [p. 606]: "Gunyah."

1860. G.Bennett, `Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 114 [Footnote]:

"The name given by the natives to the burrow or habitation of any animals is `guniar,' and the same word is applied to our houses."

1880. P. J. Holdsworth, `Station, Hunting':

"hunger clung Beneath the bough-piled gunyah."

1885. R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 19:

"The sleepy blacks came out of their gunyahs." [p. 52]: "A gunya of branches."

1890. Lyth, `Golden South,' c. ii. p. 16:

"Where this beautiful building now stands, there were only the gunyahs or homes of the poor savages."

1890. A. J. Vogan, `Black Police,' p. 98:

"One of the gunyahs on the hill. . . . The hut, which is exactly like all the others in the group,—and for the matter of that all within two or three hundred miles,—is built of sticks, which have been stuck into the ground at the radius of a common centre, and then bent over so as to form an egg-shaped cage, which is substantially thatched on top and sides with herbage and mud."

<hw>Gunyang</hw>, n. the aboriginal word for the Kangaroo Apple (q.v.), though the name is more strictly applied not to Solanum aviculare, but to S. vescum.

1877. F. von Muller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 106:

"The similarity of both [S. vescum and S. aviculare] to each other forbids to recommend the fruit of the Gunyang as edible."

1878. W. R. Guilfoyle, `Australian Botany,' p. 73:

"Kangaroo Apple, Solanum aviculare. . . . The Gunyang (Solanum vescum) is another variety found in Victoria."

1888. D. Macdonald, `Gum Boughs,' p. 222:

"A couple of tiny streams trickle across the plains to the sea, a dwarfed ti-tree, clinging low about the ground, like the gunyang or kangaroo apple, borders the banks."

<hw>Gurnard</hw>, n. i.q. Gurnet (q.v.).

<hw>Gurnet</hw>, n. The species of Trigla found in British waters, called Gurnards are of the family of Cottidae. The word Gurnet is an obsolete or provincial form of Gurnard, revived in Australia, and applied to the fish Centropogon scorpoenoides, Guich., family Scorpoenidae. The original word Gurnard is retained in New Zealand, and applied to the new species Trigla kumu (kumu being the Maori name), family Cottidae. The Flying Gurnet is Trigla polyommata, Richards., found on all the Australian coasts from New South Wales to Western Australia, family Cottidae. It is a distinct species, not included in the British species. They have large pectoral fins, but are not known to possess the power of supporting themselves in the air like the "flying fish" which belong to other genera. Sir Fredk. McCoy says that Sebastes Percoides, Richards., is called Gurnet, or Garnet-perch, by the fishermen and dealers, as well as the more common Neosebastes scorpoenoides, Guich., and Scorpoena panda, Richards.

<hw>Gutter</hw>, n. in Australian goldmining, "the lower and auriferous part of the channel of an old river of the Tertiary period " (`Century'). "The lowest portion of a lead. A gutter is filled with auriferous drift or washdirt, which rests on the palaeozoic bed-rock." (Brough Smyth, `Glossary of Mining Terms.')

1864. J. Rogers, `New Rush,' p. 55:

"Duffers are so common And golden gutters rare."

1871. J. J. Simpson, `Recitations,' p. 23:

"Privations and hardships you all have to suffer Ere you can expect to get on to the gutter."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. viii. p. 81:

"If we happened to drop right down on the `gutter' or main course of the lead, we were all right."

1890. `Goldfields of Victoria,' p.23:

"The Company . . . are putting in a drive to strike the old Shakspeare gutter."

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

"Evidently both claims had been driving for a `gutter.' One of them had got to the end of its tether before reaching it."

<hw>Gutter-flags</hw>, n. Flags fixed on the surface to denote where the course of a gutter or lead underground has been discovered." (Brough Smyth, `Glossary of Mining Terms.')

<hw>Gweeon</hw>, n. a stone tomahawk of the aborigines. Gweh-un, in Mukthang language, Gippsland. Apparently a remnant of a term occurring along the east side of Australia; Burgoin, New South Wales; bulgoon and balgon, Burdekin River, Queensland; related to balgoungo, to chop.

<hw>Gymnobelideus</hw>, n. the scientific name of the genus confined to Australia of Squirrel Phalangers, or Squirrel Opossums, as they have been called. See Opossum. The name was given by Sir Frederick McCoy in 1867. Only two specimens have been found, and they are in the Melbourne Museum of Natural History. There is only one species, G. leadbeateri, M'Coy. In general form they resemble the so-called Australian Flying Squirrel (q.v.), save for the absence of the parachute. They have large naked ears. (Grk. gymnos, naked, and Latin, belideus, the Flying-Phalanger or Squirrel.)

<hw>Gymnorrhina</hw>, n. the scientific name of the Australian genus of Piping Crow-Shrikes, called locally by the vernacular name of Magpies (q.v.). They have the nostrils and beak unfeathered. (Grk. gymnos, naked, and rhis, nose.) For the species see under Magpie.

H

<hw>Haddock</hw>, n. The New Zealand Haddock is Gadus australis, Hutton, Pseudophycis barbatus, Gunth., and Merlucius gayi, Guich., or australis, Hutton, all belonging to the family Gadidae or Cod-fishes. The European species of Merlucius is known as the "Hake."

<hw>Haeremai</hw>, interj. Maori term of welcome, lit. come hither; haere is the verb. It has been colloquially adopted.

1769. J. Hawkesworth, `Voyages,' vol. iii. p. 229 (ed. 1785):

"When they came near enough to be heard, they waved their hands, and called out `Horomai.' These ceremonies we were told were certain signs of their friendly disposition."

1832. `Henry Williams' Journal,' in H. Carleton's `Life of Henry Williams,' p. 112:

"After breakfast we went to them all; they were very glad to see us, and gave us the usual welcome, `Haeremai! Haeremai!'"

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' p. 249:

"As I ascended the steep hill with my train, scarcely any greeting was addressed to me, no shouts of haeremai, so universal a welcome to the stranger, were to be heard."

1863. F. E. Maning (The Pakeha-Maori ), `Old New Zealand,' p. 14:

"The boat nears the shore, and now arises from a hundred voices the call of welcome, `Haere mai! haere mai! hoe mai!' Mats, hands, and certain ragged petticoats all waving in the air in sign of welcome. Then a pause. Then, as the boat came nearer, another burst of haere mai! But unaccustomed as I was then to the Maori salute, I disliked the sound. There was a wailing, melancholy cadence that did not strike me as being the appropriate note of welcome."

1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' (English edition) p. 438:

"Rev. Mr. Chapman received me at his garden gate with a hearty welcome, the natives shouted their friendly `haeremai,' and ere long we were all in comfortable shelter beneath the missionary's roof."

1883. F. S. Renwick, `Betrayed,' p. 34:

"Haire mai ho! 'tis the welcome song Rings far on the summer air."

<hw>Hair-trigger</hw>, n. a Tasmanian name for any plant of genus Stylidium. Called also Trigger-plant, and Jack in a Box (q.v.).

1852. Mrs. Meredith, `My Home in Tasmania,' vol. ii. p. 71:

"The Stylidium, or as we named it, the `Hair-trigger,' is common all over the colony."

<hw>Haka</hw>, n. Maori word for a dance.

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' p. 198:

"A haka was now performed by about one hundred and fifty men and women. They seated themselves in ranks in one of the courtyards of the pa, stripped to the waist. An old chieftainess, who moved along the ranks with regular steps, brandishing an ornamental spear in time to her movements, now recited the first verse of a song in a monotonous, dirge-like measure. This was joined in by the others, who also kept time by quivering their hands and arms, nodding their heads and bending their bodies in accordance with each emphasis and pause."

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' c. xvi. p. 409 (3rd ed. 1855):

"I witnessed a national spectacle which was new to me—a sort of incantation performed by women alone—the haka, I think it is called."

1872. A.Domett, `Ranolf,' XV. c. vi. p. 242:

"The haka-dances, where she shone supreme."

1873. `Appendix to Journal of House of Representatives,' G. I, B., p. 8:

"Thursday was passed by them [the natives] in feasting and hakas."

1883. F. S. Renwick, `Betrayed,' p. 34:

"A rushing throng in the furious haka share."

1896. `Otago Witness,' Jan. 23, p. 50, col. 5:

"He also received a visit from three or four hostile natives, who, with blood-curdling yells, duly performed the indispensable haka."

<hw>Hakea</hw>, n. the scientific name given, in honour of Baron Hake of Hanover, to "a large Australian genus of plants belonging to the follicular section of the Proteaceae, tribe Grevilleae, and distinguished from Grevillea by its axillary inflorescence and samaroid seeds. The species, nearly 100 in number [Maiden's index to `Useful Native Plants' gives sixteen], are all evergreen shrubs, or small trees, with alternate coriaceous, variously lobed, often spiny leaves. They are ornamental in cultivation, and several have acquired special names—H. ulicina, Native Furze; H. laurina, Cushion-flower; H. acicularis (Lissosperma), Native Pear; H. flexilis, Twine-bush." (`Century.')

1877. F. v. Muller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 50:

"Proteaceae are more extensively still represented in Victoria by the well known genera Grevillea and Hakea, the former dedicated to the Right Hon. C. F. Greville, of Paddington, the latter genus named in honour of Baron Hake, of Hanover, both having been alike patrons of horticulture at the end of the last century."

1897. `The Australasian,' Jan. 30, p. 226, col. 3:

"Recently, according to `Nature,' Mr. G. M. Thomson, an eminent authority on New Zealand botany, has shown that one of the genera, namely Hakea, though absent at present from the islands [of New Zealand], formerly existed there. Plant remains were found at St. Bathans, in a bed of clay, which have been identified by him as Hakea. The question of the identification of fossil plants is always a difficult one, but as Mr. Thomson announces that he has obtained fruit capsules and leaves there can be but little doubt as to the correctness of his determinations. Hitherto the genus has been regarded as Australian only, and about 100 species are known, of which no less than 65 are West Australian. It would seem then that the Hakeas had obtained a footing in Eastern Australia before the connection with New Zealand had disappeared, and that probably the genus is a far older one than had been anticipated. Why, after finding its way to New Zealand, it should have died out there is a question to which no answer can as yet be supplied."

<hw>Hand-fish</hw>, n. a Tasmanian fish, Brachionichthys hirsutus, Lacep., family Pediculati. The name is used in the northern hemisphere for a different fish, which is also called there the Frog-fish and Toad-fish. The name arises from a fancied resemblance of the profile of the fish to a human hand. It is also called Frog-fish and Tortoise-shell fish. Mrs. Meredith calls it Tortoise-shell Fish from its colour, when figuring it in `Tasmanian Friends and Foes' under its former scientific name of Cheironectes Politus. The surface of its skin is hirsute with minute spines, and the lobe at the end of the detached filament of the dorsal fin—called the fintacle—hangs loose. The scientific names of the genus are derived from Grk. brachiown, "the arm," and cheir, "the hand." The armlike pectoral fins are used for holding on to stones or seaweed.

1850. `Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land,' Jan. 9, vol. i. p. 268:

"A little spotted fish belonging to the genus Chironectes . . . Mr. Champ writes thus respecting the frog fish:— `It was found in the sea at Port Arthur by a person who was with me, and when caught had all the appearance of having four legs, from the position and shape of the fins; the two longest of which, from the sort of elbow in them, and the division into (rays) what resemble fingers, seem to form a connecting link between fins and legs or arms.'"

1880. Mrs.'Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 249:

"It has fins like feet; one small pair where pectoral fins usually are, and a larger pair, with absolute elbows to them, and apparently shoulder-blades too, only those do not belong to the fore pair of feet! A very antipodean arrangement truly! The markings on the body and on the delicate pellucid fins are like tortoise-shell."

<hw>Hand, Old</hw>, n. one who has been a convict.

1861. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 141:

"The men who have been convicts are termed `old hands'; they are mostly rude, rough men, with no moral principle or religious feeling, and who have little sympathy for humanity."

1865. J. O. Tucker, `Australian Story,' c. i. p. 85:

"Reformed convicts, or, in the language of their proverbial cant, `old hands.'"

1865. F. H. Nixon, `Peter Perfume,' p. 102:

"`Boshman' in the old-hand vernacular signifies a fiddler." ["Bosh in gypsy means music and also violin." -Barrere and Leland.]

1885. J. Rae, `Chirps by an Australian Sparrow,' p. 99:

"The old hands were quite tidy too With hats of cabbage-tree."

<hw>Hang up</hw>, v. to tie up a horse.

1860. W. Kelly, `Life in Victoria,' p. 49 [Footnote]:

"In Melbourne there are posts sunk in the ground almost opposite every door. . . . Fastening your horse to one of these posts is called `hanging him up.'"

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia,' p. 32:

"We got off, hung our horses up to a tree."

1890. E. W. Hornung, `Bride from the Bush,' p. 296:

"The mail-boy is waiting impatiently in the verandah, with his horse `hung up' to one of the posts."

<hw>Hapalote</hw>, n. Anglicized form of Hapalotis (Grk. hapalos, soft, and 'ous, 'owtis) ear), a peculiar Australian genus of rodents of the mouse family. They are called Jumping Mice, and have soft ears, and enlarged hind limbs like the jerboa, but are not marsupial like the kangaroo. There are many species.

<hw>Hapu</hw>, n. Maori word for sub-tribe; sometimes even, family.

1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand, the Britain of the South,' vol. i. p. 162:

"The 70,000 semi-civilised natives now in New Zealand are divided into some dozen chief tribes, and into numerous sub-tribes and `harpu.'"

1873. `Appendix to Journals of House of Representatives,' vol. iii. G. 7, p. 87:

"Were not all your hapu present when the money was paid? My hapu, through whom the land Nvas claimed, were present: we filled the room."

1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 171:

"An important structure that engaged the united labours of the hapu."

1887. J. White, `Ancient History of the Maori,' vol. i. p. 290:

"Each of which is subdivided again into Hapu, or smaller communities."

1891. Rev. J. Stacks, `Report of Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science,' vol. iii. sect. G. p. 378:

"On arriving in New Zealand, or Ao-tea-roa, the crews of the colonizing fleet dispersed themselves over the length and breadth of these islands, and formed independent tribes or nations, each of which was divided into hapus and the hapus into families."

<hw>Hapuku</hw>, n. Maori name for a fish, Oligorus gigas, Gunth., called later Polyprion prognathus (see quotation, 1895), pronounced hapuka, frequently corrupted into habuka, the Groper (q.v.). It is variously called a Cod, a Perch and a Sea-Perch. See quotations.

1845 (about). `New Plymouth's National Song,' Hursthouse's `New Zealand,' p 217:

"Lowing herds on every side, Hapuka in every tide."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui, p. 411:

"Hapuku, or whapuku, commonly called the cod, but a much richer fish in flavour: externally it more resembles the salmon, and is known in New Holland as the dew or Jew-fish. It attains a large size and is considered the best fish of New Zealand."

1862. Anon., `From the Black Rocks on Friday,' `All the Year Round,' May 17, 1862, No. 160:

"A kind of codfish called by the natives whapuku or hahpuka."

1878. P. Thomson, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,' vol. XI. art. lii. p. 383:

"The hapuka, or groper, was in pretty regular supply."

1880. Guenther, `Study of Fishes,' p. 392:

"The second (Oligorus gigas) is found in the sea, on the coast of New Zealand, and called by the Maoris and colonists `Hapuku' . . . Dr. Hector, who has had opportunities of examining it in a fresh state, has pointed out anatomical differences from the Murray Cod."

1880. W. Colenso, `Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,' vol. XIII. art. ii. p. 46:

"A feast of good things prepared—eels, and hapuku (codfish), and taro."

1884. W. D. Hay, in the `Field,' May 10, p. 637, col. 1:

"The pakirikiri(Percis colias) is the fish to which settlers in the north of New Zealand generally give the name of whapuka."

1895. `Oxford English Dictionary' (s.v.Cod):

"In New Zealand, a serranoid fish Polyprion prognathus, called by the Maories hapuku."

<hw>Hardhead</hw>, n, the English sportsman's name for the ruddy duck (Erismatura rubida). Applied by sportsmen in Australia to the White-eyed Duck, Nyroca australis, Gould. See Duck.

<hw>Hardwood</hw>, n. The name is applied to many Australian timbers something like teak, but especially to Backhousia bancroftii, F. v. M. and Bailey, N.O. Myrtaceae. In Tasmania, it means any gum-timber (Eucalyptus). It is in constant and universal use for building and fencing in Australia.

1888. Candish, `Whispering Voices,' p. 108:

"Sitting on a block of hardwood . . . is the gray-haired forest feller."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. iii. p. 24:

"It was a hammer-like piece of hardwood above a plate of tin."

1891. Rolf Boldrewood, `Sydney-side Saxon,' p. 93:

"A hardwood slab-door weighs a goodish deal, as any one may find out that has to hump it a hundred yards."

Hardyhead, n. name given in Sydney to the fish Atherina pinguis, Lacep., family Atherinidae.

<hw>Hare-Kangaroo</hw>, n. a small Kangaroo, resembling the British hare. Called also Hare-Wallaby. The scientific name is Lagorchestes (q.v.).

1871. G. Krefft, `Mammals of Australia':

"The Hare-kangaroos, so called from their resemblance to that well known rodent, are the fleetest of the whole tribe, and though they do not exceed a common hare in bulk, they can make clear jumps of eight and ten feet high."

<hw>Hare-Wallaby</hw>, n. See Hare-Kangaroo, Wallaby, and Lagorchestes.

<hw>Harlequin-Pigeon</hw>, n. formerly referred to the genus Peristera, but now to the genus Phaps. It is commonly called in the interior the "flock" pigeon.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 296:

"Large flocks of Peristera histrionica (the harlequin- pigeon) were lying on the patches of burnt grass on the plains."

<hw>Harmonic Thrush</hw>, n. See Port Jackson Thrush.

<hw>Harpagornis</hw>, n. a scientific name for a partly fossilised, huge raptorial bird of New Zealand. From Greek HARPA? harpax robbing, and 'ornis, a bird.

1878. A. Newton, `Encyclopaedia Britannica,' vol. iii. p. 731:

"There is a harpagornis, a bird of prey of stature sufficient to have made the largest dinornis its quarry."

<hw>Harrier</hw>, n. English bird-name (that which harries), assigned in New Zealand to Circus gouldii, Bonap. (also called Swamp-hawk), and in Australia to C. assimilis, Jard. and Selb., or C. approximans, Bonap., called Spotted Harrier.

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 206:

"Circus Gouldi, Bonap., New Zealand harrier, or Gould's harrier."

<hw>Hat, Black</hw>, n. slang for a new immigrant.

1887. R. M. Praed, `Longleat of Kooralbyn,' c. xxviii. p. 277:

"Lord! if I were Mr. Dyson Maddox, I'd never let it be said that a black hat had cut me out sweetheartin'."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. iii. p. 21:

"A `black hat' in Australian parlance means a new arrival."

<hw>Hat, Old</hw>. See Old-hat.

<hw>Hatter</hw>. (1) A solitary miner—miner who works without a mate partner: sc. one who has everything under his own hat.

1869. Brough Smyth, `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 613 (`Glossary of Mining Terms'):

"One who works alone. He differs from the fossicker who rifles old workings, or spends his time in trying abandoned washdirt. The hatter leads an independent life, and nearly always holds a claim under the bye-laws."

1884. R. L. A.Davies, `Poems and Literary Remains,' p. 267:

"Oh, a regular rum old stick; . . . he mostly works a `hatter.' He has worked with mates at times, and leaves them when the claim is done, and comes up a `hatter' again. He's a regular old miser."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `The Miner's Right,' p. 37:

"Instead of having to take to fossicking like so many `hatters' —solitary miners."

(2) By extension to other professions.

1893. `The Herald' (Melbourne), Aug. 28, p. i. col. 7:

"He had been a burglar of the kind known among the criminal classes as `a hatter.' That is to say, he burgled `on his own hook,' never in a gang. He had never, he told me, burgled with a companion."

<hw>Hatteria</hw>, n. scientific name for a genus of reptiles containing a Lizard peculiar to New Zealand, the only living representative of the order Rhynchocephalinae. See Tuatara.

<hw>Hatting</hw>, quasi pres. partic., solitary mining. See Hatter.

1891. `The Age,' Nov. 25, p. 6, col. 7:

"Two old miners have been hatting for gold amongst the old alluvial gullies."

<hw>Hat-tree</hw>, n. name given to a species of Sterculia, the Bottle-trees (q.v.).

<hw>Hau-hau</hw>, n. a Maori superstition. This superstition arose in Taranaki in 1864, through the crazy fancies of the chief Te Ua, who communed with angels and interpreted the Bible. The meaning of the word is obscure, but it probably referred to the wind which wafted the angels to the worshippers whilst dancing round an erect pole. Pai Marire was another name for the superstition, and signifies "good and peaceful." (See Gudgeon's `War in New Zealand,' p. 23 sq.; also Colenso's pamphlet on `Kereopa,' p. 4.)

<hw>Hawk</hw>, n. This common English bird-name is applied in Australia to many species—

Brown-Hawk— Hieracadiea orientalis, Sehl.

Crested-H.— Baza subcristata, Gould.

Eagle-H.— Another name for Wedge-tailed Eagle. (See Eagle and Eagle-hawk.)

Fish-H.— Another name for Osprey. (See Fish-hawk.)

Gos-H.— Astur approximans, V. and H.

Grey Gos-H.— A. cinereus, Vieill.

Lesser Gos-H.— A. cruentus, Gould.

Lesser White Gos-H.— A. leucosomus, Sharpe.

Red Gos-H.— A. radiatus, Lath.

Sparrow-H.— Accipiter cirrhocephalus, Vieill.

Striped Brown-H.— Hieracidea berigora, V. and H. [See Berigora.]

Swamp-H. [See Harrier.]

White Gos-H.— Astur novae-hollandiae, Gm.

See also Nankeen-Hawk, and Night-Hawk.

In New Zealand, the varieties appear in the quotation, 1889.

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 206: [A complete description.]

1889. Prof. Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,' p. 117:

"Of the three species recognized, two, the quail-hawk (Harpa Novae Zealandiae) and the bush-hawk (H. ferox) [or sparrow-hawk], belong to a genus peculiar to New Zealand." [The third is the New Zealand harrier, Circus Gouldi, also found in Australia.]

<hw>Hazel</hw>, n. name applied in Victoria to the tree Pomaderris apetala, Labill., N.O. Rhamnaceae.

1889. J. H. Maiden. `Useful Native Plants,' p. 590:

"Called `hazel' in `Victoria. A tall shrub, or small tree. The wood is excellent, of a beautiful satiny texture, and adapted for carvers' and turners' work. [Grows in] all the colonies except Western Australia and Queensland."

<hw>Head</hw>, n. the rammer for crushing quartz in gold-mining.

1890. `Goldfields of Victoria,' p.7:

"Forty additional heads will be shortly added to the crushing power, bringing the battery up to sixty heads."

<hw>Head-Station</hw>, n. the principal buildings, including the owner's or manager's house, the hut, store, etc., of a sheep or cattle run.

1885. Mrs. Campbell Praed [Title]:

"The Head Station."

<hw>Heart-Pea</hw>, n. i.q. Balloon-Vine (q.v.).

<hw>Heartsease</hw>, n. i.q. Brooklime, (q.v.).

<hw>Heartseed</hw>, n. i.q. Balloon-Vine (q.v.)

<hw>Heartwood</hw>. n. See Ironwood.

<hw>Heath</hw>, n. In Tasmania, where the Epacris is of very beautiful colour, this name is popularly used for Epacris impressa, Labill., N.O. Epacrideae. See Epacris.

<hw>Hedgehog-Fruit</hw>, n. Popular name applied to the fruit of Echinocarpus australis, Benth., N.O. Tiliaceae. The tree is also called Maiden's Blush (q.v.).

<hw>Hedge-Laurel</hw>, n. a name given to the tree Mapau (q.v.), an evergreen shrub of New Zealand, of the genus Pittosporum (q.v.). It has dark glossy foliage and handsome flowers, and is planted and cultivated in the form of tall garden hedges. See also Laurel.

<hw>Hei-tiki</hw>, n. Maori name for a neck ornament made of greenstone (q.v.).

1835. W. Yate, `Account of New Zealand,' p. 151:

"The latter idea [that they are representatives of gods] was conceived from the hei-tiki being taken off the neck, laid down . . . and then wept and sung over."

1889. Dr. Hocken, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,' p. 81:

"Hei means ornament for the neck. Tiki was the creator of man, and these are the representations of him. By a sort of license, they are occasionally taken to represent some renowned ancestor of the possessor; but wooden Tikis, some of immense size, usually represented the ancestors, and were supposed to be visited by their spirits. These might be erected in various parts of a pa, or to mark boundaries, etc. The Maories cling to them as sacred heirlooms of past generations, and with some superstitious reverence."

<hw>Helmet-Orchis</hw>, n. This English name is applied in Australia to the orchid Pterostylis cucullata, R. Br.

1852. Mrs. Meredith, `My Home in Tasmania,' vol. ii. p. 168:

"I also found three varieties of a singular green orchis, of a helmet shape, growing singly, on rather tall slender footstalks."

<hw>Hemp, Queensland</hw>, n. name given to the common tropical weed Sida rhombifolia, Linn., N.O. Malvaceae. Called also Paddy Lucerne, and in other colonies Native Lucerne, and Jelly Leaf. It is not endemic in Australia.

<hw>Hemp-bush, n.</hw> the plant Plagianthus pulchellus, A. Gray, N.O. Halvaceae, native of Australia and New Zealand. Though not true hemp (cannabis), it yields a fibre commercially resembling it.

<hw>He-Oak</hw>, n. See Oak and She-Oak.

Heron, n. common English bird-name. The species present in Australia are—

Ashy Reef H.— Demiegretta asha, Sykes.

Great-billed H.— Ardea sumatrana, Rafll.

Grey H.— A. cinerea, Linn.

Night H.— Nycticorax caledonicus, Lath.

Reef H.— Demiegretta sacra, Gmel.

White-fronted H.— Ardea novae-hollandiae, Lath.

White-necked H.— A. pacifica, Lath.

The Cranes and the Herons are often popularly confused.

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' p. 11:

"There did I shoot . . . a blue crane—the Australian heron."

<hw>Herring</hw>, n. Various species of Clupeidae, to which the European Herring belongs, are known by this name in Australasia, and the word is also applied to an entirely different fish, Prototroctes maraena, Gunth., the Yarra Herring, Freshwater Herring, Grayling (q.v.), or Cucumber-Mullet, found in the rivers of Victoria or Tasmania. The Clupeidae are Clupea sagax (called also Maray, q.v., and Pilchard), C. sundaica, C. hypselosoma Bleek., C. novae-hollandiae, Cuv, and Val., C. vittata, Castln, (called the Smelt, q.v.), and others. In Western Australia Chatoessus erebi, Richards., is called the Perth Herring. See also Picton Herring, Aua, and Sardine.

<hw>Herring-cale</hw>, n. name given in New South Wales to the fish Olistherops brunneus, Macl., family Labridae, or Wrasses.

<hw>Hickory</hw>, n. The name Hickory is originally American, and is derived from the North-American Indian; its earliest form was Pohickery. The tree belongs to the genus Carya. The wood is excellent for gig-shafts, carriage-poles, fishing-rods, etc. The name is applied in Australia to various trees whose wood is suitable for similar purposes. In Tasmania, the name Hickory is given to Eriostemon squameus, Labill., N.O. Rutacea. Native Hickory, or Hickory-Acacia, is Acacia leprosa, Sieb., N.O. Leguminosae, and in the southern part of New South Wales, Acacia melanoxylon. (Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 358.)

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. v. p. 35:

"The beautiful umbrageous blackwood, or native hickory, one of the handsomest trees in Australia."

<hw>Hickory-Eucalypt</hw>, n. one of the names for the tree Eucalyptus punctata, DeC., N.O. Myrtaceae. Called also Leather-jacket (q.v.).

<hw>Hickory-Wattle</hw>, n. a Queensland name for Acacia aulacocarpa, Cunn., N.O. Leguminosae; called Hickory about Brisbane.

<hw>Hielaman</hw>, n. a word of Sydney and neighbourhood. The initial h, now frequently used by the natives, is not found in the earliest forms. The termination man is also English. Elimang (Hunter), e-lee-mong (Collins), hilaman (Ridley). A narrow shield of an aboriginal, made of bark or wood. Notice Mr. Grant's remarkable plural (1881 quotation).

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

"E-lee-mong-shield made of bark."

1834. L. E. Threlkeld, `Australian Grammar,' p. 5:

"As an initial, h occurs in only a few words, such as hilaman, a `shield.'"

Ibid. p. 10:

"As a barbarism, `hillimung-a shield.'"

[A barbarism means with Mr. Threlkeld little more than "not belonging to the Hunter district."]

1839. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia,' vol. ii. p. 349:

"There is much originality in the shield or hieleman of these people. It is merely a piece of wood, of little thickness, and two feet, eight inches long, tapering to each end, cut to an edge outwards, and having a handle or hole in the middle, behind the thickest part."

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1355), p. 102:

"The hieleman or shield is a piece of wood, about two and a half feet long, tapering to the ends, with a bevelled face not more than four inches wide at the broadest part, behind which the left hand passing through a hole is perfectly guarded."

1865. S. Bennett, `Australian Discovery,' p. 251:

"Hieleman, a shield. Saxon, heilan; English, helm or helmet (a little shield for the head)."

[This is a remarkable contribution to philological lore. In no dictionary is the Saxon "heilan" to be found, and a misprint may charitably be suspected. There is no doubt that the h is an English Cockney addition to the aboriginal word. It would need an ingenious fancy to connect "e-leemong" with "helm."]

1873. J. B. Stephens, `Black Gin, etc.,' p. 26:

"No faint far hearing of the waddies banging Of club and heelaman together clanging, War shouts and universal boomeranging."

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 66:

"Nullah-nullahs, paddy-melon sticks, boomerangs, tomahawks, and heelimen or shields lay about in every direction."

<hw>Hielaman-tree</hw>, n. another name for the Bats-wing Coral (q.v.), Erythrina vespertilio, Benth., N.O. Leguminosae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 426:

"`Heilaman [sic] tree.' The wood is soft, and used by the aborigines for making their `heilamans' or shields."

<hw>Hinau</hw>, n. Maori name for the New Zealand tree, Elaeocarpus dentatus, Vahl., N.O. Tiliaceae.

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. ii. p. 317:

"Another export was much talked of. This was the bark of the hinau, a large forest tree which abounds all over the country near Cook's Strait. The natives extract from this bark the black dye for their mats."

1873. `Catalogue of Vienna Exhibition':

"Hinau—a white wood used for turner's work."

Ibid.:

"The natives produce the black dye for their flax-work, for which purpose the bark is first bruised and boiled for a short time. When cold the flax is put into the mixture . . . it is then steeped thoroughly for two days in red swamp mud, rich in peroxide of iron."

1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,' p. 130:

"Hinau, a small tree about fifty feet high and eighteen inches thick in stem, with brown bark which yields a permanent blue-black dye, used for tanning . . . used by Maoris for colouring mats and baskets. Wood a yellowish brown colour and close-grained; very durable for fencing and piles."

<hw>Hoki</hw>, n. a New Zealand fish, Coryphaenoides novae-zelandiae. Coryphaenoides belongs to the family Macruridae, which are deep-sea Gadoids. See Tasmanian Whip-tail.

<hw>Holly, Native</hw>, n. name given in Australia to the tree Lomatia ilicifolia, R. Br., N.O. Proteaceae, and in Tasmania to Coprosma hirtella, Labill., N.O. Rubiaceae; called also Coffee Plant.

<hw>Holly, Smooth</hw>, n. name given to the tree Hedycarya angustifolia, A. Cunn., N.O. Monimiaceae; called also Native Mulberry.

<hw>Hollyhock-tree</hw>, n. name given to Hibiscus splendens, Fraser, N.O. Malvaceae.

<hw>Holy City</hw>, n. a nickname for Adelaide. See Farinaceous City.

1875. R. and F. Hill, `What we Saw in Australia,' p. 264:

". . . including so many churches that we are at a loss to understand why Adelaide should, in virtue of her supposed superabundance, be nicknamed by her neighbours the Holy City."

<hw>Holy-cross Toad</hw>, n. See Catholic Frog.

<hw>Holy-Dollar</hw>, n. punning name for a dollar out of which a Dump (q.v.) had been punched.

1822. `Hobart Town Gazette,' Aug. 10 [Proclamation by Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor-in-Chief of New South Wales and its dependencies, then including Van Diemen's Land]

"Whereas in the Year of our Lord 1813, it was deemed expedient to send a Quantity of Spanish Dollars to the Colony. . . . And whereas His Excellency, the then Governor, thought proper to direct, that every such Dollar, with a small circular Piece of Silver, struck out of its Centre, should be current within this Territory, and every part thereof, for the Sum of Five Shillings."

[These were called holy (holey) dollars, or ring dollars, though the name does not occur in the above quotation.]

1857. D. Bunce, `Australasiatic Reminiscences,' p. 59:

"We were more particularly struck with the character and various kinds of currency [in Tasmania in 1833]. Our first change for a pound consisted of two dumps, two holy dollars, one Spanish dollar, one French coin, one half-crown, one shilling, and one sixpence."

<hw>Honey-Ant</hw>, n. name given to various species of Ants, in which the body of certain individuals becomes enormously distended by sweet food with which they are fed by the worker ants, for whom this store of honey serves as a food supply. When the side of the distended abdomen is tapped, the ant passes the `honey' out of its mouth, and it is then eaten. Three species are known in Australia, Camponotus inflatus, Lubbock; C. cowlei, Froggatt; and C. midas, Froggatt. The aboriginal name of the first is `Yarumpa.'