1855. W. Howitt, `Two Years in Victoria,' vol. i. p. 261:
"The Bathurst bur (Xanthium spinosuzn), a plant with long triple spines like the barbary, and burs which are ruinous to the wool of the sheep—otherwise, itself very like a chenopodium, or good-fat-hen."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 426:
"Batswing Coral. . . .The wood is soft, and used by the aborigines for making their `heilamans,' or shields. It is exceedingly light and spongy, and of the greatest difficulty to work up to get anything like a surface for polishing."
1835. Ross, `Hobart Town Almanack,' p. 70:
"Bauera rubiaefolia. Madder leaved Bauera. A pretty little plant with pink flowers. This genus is named after the celebrated German draughtsman, whose splendid works are yet unrivalled in the art, especially of the Australian plants which he depicted in his voyage round New Holland with Capt. Flinders in the Investigator."
1888. R. M. Johnston, `Geology of Tasmania,' Intro. p. vi.:
"The Bauera scrub . . . is a tiny, beautiful shrub . . . Although the branches are thin and wiry, they are too tough and too much entangled in mass to cut, and the only mode of progress often is to throw one's self high upon the soft branching mass and roll over to the other side. The progress in this way is slow, monotonous, and exhausting."
1891. `The Australasian,' April 4, p. 670, col. 2:
"Cutting-grass swamps and the bauera, where a dog can't hardlygo,Stringy-bark country, and blackwood beds, and lots of it brokenby snow."
1891. W. Tilley, `Wild West of Tasmania,' p. 7:
"Interposing the even more troublesome Bauera shrub; whose gnarled branches have earned for it the local and expressive name of `tangle-foot' or `leg ropes.' [It] has been named by Spicer the `Native Rose.'"
1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.:
"A good jorum of bull (washings of a sugar bag)" [given to aborigines who have been working].
1839. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions,' vol. ii. p. 288:
"The flowers are gathered, and by steeping them a night in water the natives made a sweet beverage called `bool.'"
1878. R. Brough Smyth, `Aborigines of Victoria,' vol. i. p. 210:
"In the flowers of a dwarf species of banksia (B. ornata) there is a good deal of honey, and this was got out of the flowers by immersing them in water. The water thus sweetened was greedily swallowed by the natives. The drink was named beal by the natives of the west of Victoria, and was much esteemed."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 425:
"The seeds are about two inches across, by half-an-inch thick, and have a hard woody and beautifully polished shell, of a dark brown or purplish colour. These seeds are converted into snuff-boxes, scent-bottles, spoons, etc., and in the Indian bazaars they are used as weights. (`Treasury of Botany.') In the colonies we usually see the beans of this plant mounted with silver, as match-boxes. The wood itself is soft, fibrous, and spongy."
1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i. p. 317
"Our coola (sloth or native bear) is about the size of an ordinary poodle dog, with shaggy, dirty-coloured fur, no tail, and claws and feet like a bear, of which it forms a tolerable miniature. It climbs trees readily and feeds upon their leaves."
1846. G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,' p. 57:
"The bear (phascolomys) of the colonists is in reality a species of sloth, and partakes of all the characteristics of that animal; it is of the marsupial order, and is found chiefly in the neighbourhood of thickly timbered high land; its flesh is used by the aborigines for food, but is tough and unpalatable; its usual weight is from eight to twelve pounds." [Note: Phascolomys is the name of the Wombat, not the Bear.]
1854. G. H. Hayden, `The Australian Emigrant,' p. 126:
"The luckless carbora fell crashing through the branches." [Footnote] "The native name of an animal of the sloth species, but incorrectly called by the colonists a bear."
1855. W. Blandowski, `Transactions of Philosophical Society of Victoria,' vol. i. p. 68:
"The koala or karbor (Phascolarctus cinereus) frequents very high trees, and sits in places where it is most sheltered by the branches. . . . Its fur is of the same colour as the bark . . . like the cat has the power of contracting and expanding the pupil of the eye . . . . Its skin is remarkably thick . . . dense woolly fur . . . . The natives aver that the koala never drinks water."
1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery and Exploration of Australia,' vol. i. p. 448:
"They were soon entirely out of provisions, but found a sort of substitute by living on the native bear (Phascolarctus cinereus), which was plentiful even in the forests."
1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 214:
"Look, high up in the branches of that tall tree is a native bear! It sits motionless. It has something the appearance of a solemn old man. How funny his great ears and Roman nose look! He sits on the branch as if it was a chair, holding with hand-like claws the surrounding twigs."
1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 9:
"We learned that a koala or native bear (Phascolarctus cinereus) was sitting on a tree near the but of a shepherd . . . not a dangerous animal. It is called `native bear,' but is in no wise related to the bear family. It is an innocent and peaceful marsupial, which is active only at night, and sluggishly climbs the trees, eating leaves and sleeping during the whole day. As soon as the young has left the pouch, the mother carries it with her on her back. The Australian bear is found in considerable numbers throughout the eastern part of the continent, even within the tropical circle."
1864. `Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land' [paper by Morton Allport], p. 62:
"Common to both fresh and brackish water is the yellow bellied beaver-rat or musk-rat (Hydromys chrysogaster)."
(1) Simply to
Cryptocarya glaucescens, R. Br., N.O. Laurineae, called also Black Sassafras, White Laurel, She Beech, and Black Beech.
Flindersia australis, R. Br., N.O. Meliaceae, called also Flindosa Ash, Crow's Ash, and Rasp-pod, and invariably Myrtle to Tasmania.
Gmelina leichhardtii, F. v. M., N.O. Verbenaceae.
Monotoca elliptica, R. Br., N.O. Epacrideae.
Phyllanthus ferdinandi, Muell. and Arg., N.O. Euphorbiaceae, called also Pencil Cedar in Southern New South Wales.
Schizomeria ovata, D. Don, N.O. Saxifrageae, called also Corkwood, Light-wood, Coachwood, and White Cherry.
Trochocarpa laurina, R. Br., N.O. Epacrideae, called also Brush Cherry, and Brush Myrtle.
(2) With various epithets the name is also used as follows—
Evergreen Beech—
Fagus cunninghamii, Hook, N.O. Cupuliferae, called also Myrtle and Negro-head Beech.
Flindosy B.—
Flindersia schottiana, F. v. M., N.O. Meliaceae, called also Ash and Stave-wood.
Indian B.—
Pongamia glabra, Vent., N.O. Leguminosae, B. Fl.
Mountain B.—
Lomatia longifolia, R. Br., N.O. Proteaceae.
Native B.—
Callicoma serratifolia, Andr., N.O. Saxifragiae, "one of the trees called by the early colonists `Black Wattle,' from the fancied resemblance of the flowers to those of some of the wattles." (Maiden, p. 389.)
Negro-head B., i.q. Evergreen B. (q.v. supra).
Queensland B.—
Gmelina leichhardtii , F. v. M., N.O. Verbenaceae, a tall valuable timber-tree.
Red B.—
Tarrietia trifoliata, F. v. M., N.O. Sterculiaceae.
She B.—
Cryptocazya obovata, R. Br., H.0. Laurineae, B. Fl., called also Bastard Sycamore.
White B.—
Elaeocarpus kirtoni, F. v. M., N.O. Tiliaceae, called also Mountain Ash.
(3) In New Zealand, there are six species of true beeches, which according to Kirk are as follows—
Blair's B.—
Fagus blairii, T. Kirk.
Entire-leaved B.—
F. solandri, Hook. f.
Mountain B.—
F. cliffortioides, Hook. f.
Pointed-leaved B.—
F. apiculata, Colenso.
Silver B.—
F. Menziesii, Hook. f.
Tooth-leaved B.—
F. fusca, Hook. f.
All these, however, are commonly called Birches.
See also the words Ash, Myrtle, Sassafras.
1793. G. Shaw, `Zoology [and Botany] of New Holland,' p. 14:
"Specific character.—Black Merops varied with yellow. The bird figured in its natural size on the present plate is a species of Merops or Bee-eater; a tribe which appears to be peculiarly prevalent in the extensive regions of Australia, since more birds of this genus have been discovered than of any other, except the very numerous one of Psittacus."
[The birds, however, have been since this date further differentiated, and are now all classed in other genera, except the present species.]
1790. J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 144:
"The wattled bee-eater, of which a plate is annexed, fell in our way during the course of the day. . . . Under the eye, on each side, is a kind of wattle of an orange colour. . . This bird seems to be peculiar to New Holland."
Ibid. p. 190:
"We this day shot a knob-fronted bee-eater (see plate annexed).This is about the size of a black-bird." [Description follows.]
1826. J. Atkinson, `Agriculture and Grazing in New South Wales,' p. 31:
"The wood is well known in England by the names of Botany Bay wood, or beef wood.The grain is very peculiar, but the wood is thought very little of in the colony; it makes good shingles, splits, in the colonial phrase, from heart to bark . . ."
1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia,' vol. i. c. i. p. 22:
"They seemed to be covered with cypresses and beef-wood."
1846. C. Holtzapffel, `Turning,' vol. i. p. 74:
"Beef wood. Red-coloured woods are sometimes thus named, but it is generally applied to the Botany-Bay oak."
1852. G. C. Munday, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1855), p. 219:
"A shingle of the beef-wood looks precisely like a raw beef-steak."
1856. Capt. H. Butler Stoney, `A Residence in Tasmania,' p. 265:
"We now turn our attention to some trees of a very different nature, Casuarina stricta and quadrivalvis, commonly called He and She oak, and sometimes known by the name of beef-wood, from the wood, which is very hard and takes a high polish, exhibiting peculiar maculae spots and veins scattered throughout a finely striated tint . . ."
1868. Paxton's `Botanical Dictionary,' p. 116:
"Casuarinaceae,or Beefwoods. Curious branching, leafless trees or shrubs, with timber of a high order, which is both hard and heavy, and of the colour of raw beef, whence the vulgar name."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants.' (See `Index of vernacular names.')
1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 18:
"A voice in the beela grows wild in its wail."
1868. J. A. B., `Meta,' p. 19:
"With heartfelt glee we hail the camp,And blazing fire of beal."
[Footnote]: "Aboriginal name of the gum-tree wood."
1874. W. H. L. Ranken, `Dominion of Australia,' c. vi. p. 110:
"These scrubs . . . sometimes crown the watersheds as `belar.'"
1774. J. Hawkesworth, `Voyages,' vol. ii. p. 390 [Journal of Jan. 17, 1770):
"In the morning we were awakened by the singing of the birds; the number was incredible, and they seemed to strain their throats in emulation of each other. This wild melody was infinitely superior to any that we had ever heard of the same kind; it seemed to be like small bells most exquisitely tuned, and perhaps the distance, and the water between, might be no small advantage to the sound. Upon enquiry we were informed that the birds here always began to sing about two hours after midnight, and continuing their music till sunrise were, like our nightingales, silent the rest of the day."
[This celebrated descriptive passage by Dr. Hawkesworth is based upon the following original from `Banks's Journal,' which now, after an interval of 122 years, has just been published in London, edited by Sir J. D. Hooker.]
1770. J. Banks, `Journal,' Jan. 17 (edition 1896):
"I was awakened by the singing of the birds ashore, from whence we are distant not a quarter of a mile. Their numbers were certainly very great. They seemed to strain their throats with emulation, and made, perhaps, the most melodious wild music I have ever heard, almost imitating small bells, but with the most tunable silver sound imaginable, to which, maybe, the distance was no small addition. On inquiring of our people, I was told that they had observed them ever since we had been here, and that they began to sing about one or two in the morning, and continue till sunrise, after which they are silent all day, like our nightingales."
1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' c. viii. p. 84:
"The cry of the bell-bird seems to be unknown here."
1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. xv. p. 319:
"Mr. Caley thus observes on this bird: `Dell-bird or Bell-bird. So called by the colonists. It is an inhabitant of bushes, where its disagreeable noise (disagreeable at least to me) [but not to the poets] may be continually heard; but nowhere more so than on going up the harbour to Paramatta, when a little above the Flats.'"
1835. T. B. Wilson, `Voyage Round the World,' p. 259:
"During the night, the bell bird supplied, to us, the place of the wakeful nightingale . . . a pleasing surprise, as we had hitherto supposed that the birds in New Holland were not formed for song."
1839. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' p. 23:
"Every bough seemed to throng with feathered musicians: the melodious chimes of the bell-bird were specially distinct."
1845. R. Howitt, `Australia,' p. 102:
"Look at the bell-bird's nest, admire the two spotted salmon coloured eggs."
Ibid. ('Verses written whilst we lived in tents'), p. 171:
"Through the Eucalyptus shade,Pleased could watch the bell-bird's flutter,Blending with soft voice of watersThe delicious tones they utter."
1846. Lady Martin, `Bush journey, 1846, Our Maoris,' p. 93:
"We did hear the birds next morning as Captain Cook had described —first the bell-bird gave its clear, full note, and then came such a jargoning as made one's heart glad."
1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. ii. pl. 81:
"Oreoica gutturalis, Gould. Crested Oreoica. Bell-bird, Colonists of Swan River [Western Australia]. . . I find the following remarks in my note-book— `Note, a very peculiar piping whistle, sounding like weet-weet-weet-weet-oo, the last syllable fully drawn out and very melodious. . . . In Western Australia, where the real Bell-bird is never found, this species has had that appellation given to it,—a term which must appear ill-applied to those who have heard the note of the true Bell-bird of the brushes of New South Wales, whose tinkling sound so nearly resembles that of a distant sheep-bell as occasionally to deceive the ears of a practised shepherd."
1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 93:
"Every now and then we stood, by common consent, silent and almost breathless, to listen to the bell-bird, a dingy little fellow, nearly as large as a thrush with the plumage of a chaffinch, but with such a note! How can I make you hear its wild, sweet, plaintive tone, as a little girl of the party said `just as if it had a bell in its throat;' but indeed it would require a whole peal of silver bells to ring such an exquisite chime."
1868. F. Napier Broome, `Canterbury Rhymes,' second edition, p. 108:
"Where the bell-bird sets solitudes ringing,Many times I have heard and thrown downMy lyre in despair of all singing."
1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 21:
"Listen to the bell-bird. Ping, ping, sounds through the vast hushed temple of nature."
1883. G. W. Rusden, `History of Australia,' vol. i. p. 81:
"The bell-bird, with metallic but mellow pipe, warns the wanderer that he is near water in some sequestered nook."
1886. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 8:
"And softer than slumber and sweeter than singing,The notes of the bell-bird are running and ringing."
1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 85:
"Anthornis melanura. Chatham Island Bell-bird (A. Melanocephala), the Bell-bird—so-called from the fanciful resemblance of one of its notes to the distant tolling of a bell."
1889. Prof. Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,' p. 119:
"Bell-bird, Korimako,or Makomako (Anthornis melanura), is still common in many parts of the South Island—e.g. in the neighbourhood of Dunedin; but has almost disappeared from the North Island. Its song is remarkably fine."
1893. W. P. Reeves, `The Passing of the Forest,' `Review of Reviews,' Feb. 1893, p. 45:
"Gone are the forest birds, arboreal things,Eaters of honey, honey-sweet in song;The tui, and the bell-bird—he who singsThat brief rich music one would fain prolong.'
1896. G. A. Keartland, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,' Part II., Zoology, Aves, p. 74:
"In the north they [Oreoica] are frequently called `Bell-birds,' but bear no resemblance to Manorhina melanophrys in plumage, shape, or note. The Oreoica is such an accomplished ventriloquist that it is difficult to find."
1891. `The Argus,' Dec. 5, p. 13, col. 2:
"Can it be that the pernicious influence of the House is gradually tingeing the high priests of the bell-bottomed ballottee with conservatism!"
1860. W. Kelly, `Life in Victoria,' p. 268 [Footnote]:
"Bell-topper was the derisive name given by diggers to old style hat, supposed to indicate the dandy swell."
1870. Chas. H. Allen, `A Visit to Queensland and her Goldfields,' p. 182:
"There are certain native terms that are used by the whites also as a kind of colonial slang, such as `yabber,' to talk; `budgeree,' good; `bale,' no; `yan,' to go; `cabon,' much; and so on.
"With the black people a husband is now called a `benjamin,' probably because they have no word to their own language to express this relationship."
1835. Ross, `Hobart Town Almanack,' p. 65:
"Agrostis virginica. Virginian Agrostis, or Bent-grass. . . . Many species of this genus go under the general name of Bent-grass. Their roots spread along among light and sandy soil in which they generally grow with joints like the Squitch or Couch grass of England."
1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,' vol. xv. p. 185:
"The native name of this bird which we have adopted as its specific name, is Berigora. It is called by the settlers Orange-speckled Hawk."
1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' I. i. pl. 11:
"Hieracidea berigora. Brown Hawk. Berigora, Aborigines of New South Wales. Orange-speckled Hawk of the Colonists."
1882. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales,' p. 75:
"With hook and line along the rocks of our sea-coast these fishes are caught, but the bait should be crabs. It is usual to wrench legs and shell off the back, and cast them out for Berley."
1896. `Badminton Magazine,' August, p. 201:
"I would signal to the sharks by opening and washing out a few of the largest fish at the boat's head, sometimes adding bait chopped small to serve for what Australian fishermen call Berley."
1880. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open, `New Zealand Country Journal,' vol. xii. p. 95:
"Piri-piri (acaena sanguisorbe) by settlers has been converted or corrupted into biddy-biddy; a verb has been formed on it, which is in very constant use for a good part of the year at least. To biddy, is to rid one of burrs, as `I'll just biddy my clothes before I come in.' Small birds are occasionally found in a wretched state of discomfort in which they appear a moving mass of burrs. Parroquets, pipets, and the little white-eyes, have been found victims suffering from these tenacious burrs of the piri-piri, just moving little brown balls unable to fly till picked up and released from their bonds."
1896. `Otago Witness,' Jan. 23, vol. ii. p. 36:
"Yes, biddybids detract very materially from the value of the wool, and the plant should not be allowed to seed where sheep are depastured. They are not quite so bad as the Bathurst burr, but they are certainly in the same category."
1838. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions,' vol. i. p. 95 [Note]:
"Bidyan is the aboriginal name."
Ibid. vol. i. p. 135:
"Abundance of that which the men commonly called bream (Cernua bidyana), a very coarse but firm fish, which makes a groaning noise when taken out of the water."
In the Wiradhuri dialect of the centre of New South Wales, East coast, billa means a river and bung dead. See Bung. Billa is also a river in some Queensland dialects, and thus forms part of the name of the river Belyando. In the Moreton Bay dialect it occurs in the form pill , and in the sense of `tidal creek.' In the `Western Australian Almanack' for 1842, quoted in J. Fraser's `Australian Language,' 1892, Appendix, p. 50, Bilo is given for River.
Billabong is often regarded as a synonym for Anabranch (q.v.); but there is a distinction. From the original idea, the Anabranch implies rejoining the river; whilst the Billabong implies continued separation from it; though what are called Billabongs often do rejoin.
1862. W. Landsborough, `Exploration of Australia,' p. 30:
"A dried-up tributary of the Gregory, which I named theMacadam."
[Footnote]: "In the south, such a creek as the Macadam is termed a billy-bonn [sic], from the circumstance of the water carrier returning from it with his pitcher (billy) empty (bong, literally dead)."
1865. W. Howitt, `Discovery in Australia, vol. i. p. 298:
"What the Major calls, after the learned nomenclature of Colonel Jackson, in the `Journal of the Geographical Society,' anabranches, but which the natives call billibongs, channels coming out of a stream and returning into it again."
1880. P. J. Holdsworth, `Station Hunting on the Warrego:'
"In yon great range may huddle billabongs."
1888. D. Macdonald, `Gum Boughs,' p. 25:
"What a number of swallows skim about the `billabongs' along the rivers in this semi-tropical region."
1893. `The Argus,' April 8, p. 4, col. 1:
"Let's make a start at once, d'ye hear; I want to get over to the billabong by sunrise."
1890. E. W. Hornung, `A Bride from the Bush,' p. 267:
"If ever she went back to Australia, she'd remember my young man, and get him a good billet."
1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 48:
"He then strikes a light and makes a fire to boil his kettle and fry his bacon."
About 1850, the billy superseded the quart-pot (q.v.), chiefly because of its top-handle and its lid. Another suggested derivation is that billy is shortened from billycan, which is said to be bully-can (sc. Fr. bouili). In the early days "boeuf bouilli" was a common label on tins of preserved meat in ship's stores. These tins, called "bully-tins," were used by diggers and others as the modern billy is (see quotation 1835). A third explanation gives as the origin the aboriginal word billa (river or water).
1835. T. B. Wilson, `Voyage Round the World,' p. 238:
"An empty preserved meat-canister serving the double purpose of tea-kettle and tea-pot."
[The word billy is not used, but its origin is described.]
1857. W. Howitt, `Tallangetta,' vol. i. p. 202:
"A tin pan bearing the familiar name of a billy."
1871 J. J. Simpson, `Recitations,' p. 5:
"He can't get a billy full for many a mile round."
1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 41:
"A billy (that is a round tin pitcher with a lid) in his hand."
1889. Cassell's `Picturesque Australasia,' vol. iv. p. 69:
"A tin can, which the connoisseurs call for some reason or other a `billy.'"
1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Squatter's Dream,' p. 24:
"A very black camp-kettle, or billy, of hot tea."
1892. `The Australasian,' April 9, p. 707, col. 4:
"How we praised the simple supper(we prepared it each in turn),And the tea! Ye gods! 'twas nectar.Yonder billy was our urn."
1892. `The Australasian,' April 9, p. 707, col. 4:
"But I said, `Dear friend and brother, yonder billy-can is mine; You may confiscate the washing that is hanging on the line, You may depredate the larder, take your choice of pot and pan; But, I pray thee, kind sundowner, spare, oh spare, my billy-can.'"
1851. Rev. David Mackenzie, `Ten Years in Australia,' p. 140:
"They lay rolling themselves on the ground, heavily groaning in pain, and with their hands rubbing their bellies, exclaiming, `Cabonn buggel along bingee' (that is, I am very sick in the stomach)."
1853. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,' p. 125:
"White-birch of Nelson and Otago (from colour of bark), Black-heart Birch of Wellington, Fagus solandri, Hook, a lofty, beautiful ever-green tree, 100 feet high. Black-birch (Tawhai) of Auckland and Otago (from colour of bark), Red-birch of Wellington and Nelson (from colour of timber), Fagus fusca, N.O. Cupuliferae, a noble tree 60 to 90 feet high."
1889. T. Kirk, `Forest Flora of New Zealand,' p. 91:
"Like all small-leaved forest trees it [Fagus solandri, Hook. f.] is termed `birch' by the bushman. . . . It is not too much to say that the blundering use of common names in connection with the New Zealand beeches, when the timber has been employed in bridges and constructive works, has caused waste and loss to the value of many thousands of pounds."
1883. R. H. Govett, `Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,' vol. xvi. Art. xxviii. p. 364::
"A Bird-killing Tree. . . . In a shrub growing in my father's garden at New Plymouth, two Silver-eyes (Zosterops) and an English Sparrow had been found with their wings so glued by the sticky seed-vessels that they were unable to move, and could only fly away after having been carefully washed."
1889. T. Kirk, `Forest Flora of New Zealand,' p. 293:
"It is sometimes termed the `birdcatching plant' by settlers and bushmen . . . It will always be a plant of special interest, as small birds are often found captured by its viscid fruits, to which their feathers become attached as effectively as if they were glued."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 204:
"Bitter Bark. This small tree has an intensely bitter bark, and a decoction of it is sometimes sold as `bitters."
The Bittern—
Botaurus paeciloptilus, Wagl.
Black B.—
Butoroides flavicollis, Lath.
Green B.—
B. javanica, Horsfield.
Little B.—
Ardetta pusilla, Vieill.
rosifolius, Smith, N.O. Rosaceae See also Lawyer.
1871. `Narrative of the Voyage of the Brig Carl' [pamphlet]
"They were going to take a cruise round the islands `black-bird' catching."
1872. `The Argus,' Dec. 21, Supplement, p. 2, col. 1 [Chief Justice's charge in the case of the `Carl Outrage']:
"They were not going pearl-fishing but blackbird-hunting. It is said you should have evidence as to what blackbird-hunting meant. I think it is a grievous mistake to pretend to ignorance of things passing before our eyes everyday. We may know the meaning of slang words, though we do not use them. Is there not a wide distinction between blackbird-hunting and a legitimate labour-trade, if such a thing is to be carried on? What did he allude to? To get labourers honestly if they could, but, if not, any way?"
1881. `Chequered Career,' p.188 (`O.E.D.')
"The white men on board know that if once the `blackbirds' burst the hatches . . . they would soon master the ship."
1871. `Narrative of the Voyage of the Brig Carl' [pamphlet]:
"All the three methods, however, of obtaining labour in the South Seas—that which was just and useful, that which was of suspicious character, and that which was nothing, more or less, than robbery and murder—were in use the same time, and all three went by the same general slang term of `blackbirding,' or `blackbird catching.'"
1872. Rev. H. S. Fagan, `The Dark Blue' (Magazine), June, p. 437:
"Well, you see how it is that C is not safe, even though he is a missionary bishop, after A has made the name of missionary an offence by his ingenious mode of `black-birding.'"
1892. Gilbert Parker, `Round the Compass in Australia,' p. 78:
"In the early days of sugar-planting there may have been black-birding, but it was confined to a very few, and it is done away with altogether now."
1883. `The Academy,' Sept. 8, p. 158 (`O.E.D.')
"[He] slays Bishop Patteson by way of reprisal for the atrocities of some black-birding crew."
1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discovery in Australia,' ii. 4, 132:
"Black Boy . . . gum on the spear, resin on the trunk."
Ibid. ii. 12, 280 [Note]
"These trees, called blackboys by the colonists, from the resemblance they bear in the distance to natives."
1873. A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' vol. ii. p. 92:
"Gas admirably fitted for domestic purposes had been extracted from the shrub called the `blackboy.' I regret to state that the gas . . . is not . . . at present known in the colony."
1886. R. Henty, `Australiana,' p. 15:
"The common grass-tree or `blackboy,' so called from its long dark stem and dark seed head (when dry)."
1896. `The Australasian,' Feb. 15, p. 313 (with an Illustration):
"The Blackboy trees are a species of grass-tree or Xanthorrhoea, exuding a gummy substance used by the blacks for fastening glass and quartz-barbs to their spears. Many years ago, when coal was scarce in Western Australia, an enterprising firm . . . erected a gas-making plant, and successfully lit their premises with gas made from the Blackboy."
1896. Modern:
A story is told of a young lady saying to a naval officer:— "I was this morning watching your ship coming into harbour, and so intently that I rode over a young blackboy." The officer was shocked at her callousness in expressing no contrition.
1882. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish of New South Wales,' p. 42:
"Chrysophrys comprises the tarwhine and black-bream of the Sydney fishermen. . . . We have two species in Australia. . . . The black-bream, C. australis, Gunth., and the tarwhine, C. sarba, Forsk. . . . The Australian bream is as common on the south as on the east coast. It affords excellent sport to anglers in Victoria."
1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 49:
"The range . . . having with the exception of the Blackbutt all the trees . . . of Moreton Bay."
1863. M. K. Beveridge, `Gatherings among Gum-trees,' p. 86:
"'Tis there the `blackbut' rears its head."
1894. `Melbourne Museum Catalogue, Economic Woods,' p. 30:
"A tree of considerable size. . . The bark smooth and falling off in flakes upward, and on the branches."
1897. `The Age,' Feb. 22, p. 5, col. 3:
"Mr. Richards stated that the New South Wales black butt and tallow wood were the most durable and noiseless woods for street-paving, as well as the best from a sanitary point of view."
1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discovery in Australia,' i. 4, 74:
"The native Miago . . . appeared delighted that these `black fellows,' as he calls them, have no throwing sticks."
1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 9:
"The well-known tracks of blackfellows are everywhere visible."
1871. Dingo, `Australian Rhymes,' p. 14:
"Wurragaroo loved WangaradayIn a blackfellow's own peculiar way."
1853. C. St. Julian and E. K. Silvester, `Productions, Industry, and Resources of New South Wales,' p. 115:
"There is a species of whale called by those engaged in the south sea fishing the Black-fish or Black-whale, but known to the naturalist as the Southern Rorqual, which the whalemen usually avoid."
1888. D. Macdonald, `Gum Boughs,' p. 100
"Nothing is better eating than a properly cooked black-fish.The English trout are annihilating them, however."
1882. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish of New South Wales,' p. 33:
"The genus Serranus comprises most of the fishes known as `rock cod.'. . . One only is sufficiently useful as an article of food to merit notice, and that is the `black rock cod' (Serranus damelii, Guenther), without exception the very best of all our fishes."
1859. Rev. J. D. Mereweather, `Diary of a Working Clergyman in Australia,' p. 81:
"Feb. 21 . . . Dreadful details are reaching us of the great bush fires which took place at Port Phillip on the 6th of this month . . . . Already it would seem that the appellation of `Black Thursday' has been given to the 6th February, 1851, for it was on that day that the fires raged with the greatest fury."
1889. Rev. J. H. Zillman, `Australian Life,' p. 39:
"The old colonists still repeat the most terrible stories of Black Thursday, when the whole country seemed to be on fire. The flames leaped from tree to tree, across creeks, hills, and gullies, and swept everything away. Teams of bullocks in the yoke, mobs of cattle and horses, and even whole families of human beings, in their bush-huts, were completely destroyed, and the charred bones alone found after the wind and fire had subsided."
1867. `Australia as it is,' pp. 88-9:
"The native police, or `black trackers,' as they are sometimes called, are a body of aborigines trained to act as policemen, serving under a white commandant—a very clever expedient for coping with the difficulty . . . of hunting down and discovering murderous blacks, and others guilty of spearing cattle and breaking into huts . . ."
1870. `The Argus,' March 26, p. 5, col. 4:
"The troopers, with the assistance of two black trackers, pursued the bushrangers . . ."
1870. Ibid. April 13, p. 6, col. 7:
. . . two members of the police force and a black tracker . . . called at Lima station . . ."
1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. xvii. p. 165:
"Get the black-trackers on the trail."
1893. `The Argus,' April 8, p. 4, col. 3 .
"Only three weeks before he had waddied his gin to death for answering questions put to her by a blacktracker, and now he advanced to Charlie . . . and said,. . . `What for you come alonga black fella camp?'"
1896. `The Argus,' March 30, p. 6, col. 9:
"About one hundred and fifty horsemen have been out to-day in addition to the local police. The black-trackers arrived by the train last night, and commenced work this morning."
1835. H. Melville, `History of Van Diemen's Land,' p. 103:
"The parties forming the `black line,' composed, as they were, of a curious melange of masters and servants, took their respective stations at the appointed time. As the several parties advanced, the individuals along the line came closer and closer together —the plan was to keep on advancing slowly towards a certain peninsula, and thus frighten the Aborigines before them, and hem them in."
1852. J. West, `History of Tasmania,' vol, ii. p. 54:
"Thus closed the Black War. This campaign of a month supplied many adventures and many an amusing tale, and, notwithstanding the gravity of his Excellency, much fun and folly . . . . Five thousand men had taken the field. Nearly L 30,000 had been expended, and probably not much less in time and outlay by the settlers, and two persons only were captured."
1878. `Melbourne Punch,' May 16, vol. xlvi. p. 195 [Title of Cartoon]:
"In Memoriam. Black Wednesday, 9th January 1878."
1896. `The Argus,' [Sydney telegram] Aug. 18, p. 6, col. 4:
"The times in the public service at present reminded him of Black Wednesday in Victoria, which he went through. That caused about a dozen suicides among public servants. Here it had not done so yet, but there was not a head of a department who did not now shake in his shoes."
1828. `Report of Van Diemen's Land Company,' Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land, 1832,' p. 118
"Without a tree except a few stumps of blackwood."
1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' p. 21:
"Grassy slopes thickly timbered with handsome Blackwood trees."
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 359:
"Called `Blackwood' on account of the very dark colour of the mature wood."
1894. `Melbourne Museum Catalogue, Economic Woods,' p. 4:
"Blackwood, Lightwood—rather frequent on many rich river-flats . . . .It is very close-grained and heavy, and is useful for all purposes where strength and flexibility are required."
1896. `The Melburnian,' Aug. 28, p. 53:
"The trailing scarlet kennedyas, aptly called the `bleeding- heart' or `coral-pea,' brighten the greyness of the sandy peaty wastes."
1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 130:
"The white-eye or blight-bird, with cheerful note, in crowded flocks, sweeps over the face of the country, and in its progress clears away multitudes of small insect pests."
1885. A. Hamilton, `Native Birds of Petane, Hawke's Bay,' `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,' vol. xviii. p. 125:
"Zosterops lateralis, white-eye, blight-bird. One of our best friends, and abundant in all parts of the district."
1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' (2nd ed.) vol. i. p. 82:
"By the settlers it has been variously designated as Ring-eye, Wax-eye, White-eye, or Silver-eye, in allusion to the beautiful circlet of satiny-white feathers which surrounds the eyes; and quite as commonly the `Blightbird' or `Winter-migrant.' . . . It feeds on that disgusting little aphis known as American blight, which so rapidly covers with a fatal cloak of white the stems and branches of our best apple-trees; it clears our early cabbages of a pestilent little insect, that left unchecked would utterly destroy the crop; it visits our gardens and devours another swarming parasite that covers our roses."
1882. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods `Fish and Fisheries of New South Wales, p. 97:
"Rhinobatus granulatus or shovel-nose, which is properly speaking a Ray, is called here the blind or sand shark, though, as Mr. Hill remarks, it is not blind. He says `that it attains the length of from 6 to 7 feet, and is also harmless, armed only with teeth resembling small white beads secured closely upon a cord; it however can see tolerably well, and searches on sandy patches for crustaceae and small shell fish.'"
1886. J. Douglas-Ogilby, `Catalogue of the Fishes of New South Wales,' p. 5:
"Rhinobatus Granulatus . . . I have not seen a New South Wales example of this fish, which appears to have been confounded with the following by writers on the Australian fauna. Rhinobatus Bongainvillei, Muell and Heule, Habitat Port Jackson. Shovel-nosed Ray of Sydney fishermen."
, doing the, v. lounging in the fashionable promenade. In Melbourne, it is Collins Street, between Elizabeth and Swanston Streets. In Sydney, "The Block" is that portion of the city bounded by King, George, Hunter, and Pitt Streets. It is now really two blocks, but was all in one till the Government purchased the land for the present Post Office, and then opened a new street from George to Pitt Street. Since then the Government, having purchased more land, has made the street much wider, and it is now called Martin's Place.
1869. Marcus Clarke, `Peripatetic Philosopher,' (in an Essay on `Doing the Block') (reprint), p. 13:
"If our Victorian youth showed their appreciation for domestic virtues, Victorian womanhood would `do the Block' less frequently."
1872. `Glimpses of Life in Victoria by a Resident,' p. 349:
"A certain portion of Collins street, lined by the best drapers' and jewellers' shops, with here and there a bank or private office intervening, is known as `the Block,' and is the daily resort of the belles and beaux. . . ."
1875. R. and F. Hill, `What We Saw in Australia,' p. 267:
"To `do the block' corresponds in Melbourne to driving in HydePark."
1876. Wm. Brackley Wildey, `Australasia and the Oceanic Region,' p. 234:
"The streets are thronged with handsome women, veritable denizens of the soil, fashionably and really tastefully attired, `doing the block,' patrolling Collins-street, or gracefully reclining in carriages. . . ."