Austral English Part 82
(q.v.), which is much more numerously represented in Australasia.
(Gra.s.s-lover), and since extended to other genera of birds.
The species are--
Banded Finch-- Stictoptera bichenovii, Vig. and Hors.
Black-ringed F.-- S. annulosa, Gould.
Black-rumped F.-- Poephila atropygialis, Diggles.
Black-throated F.-- P. cincta, Gould.
Chestnut-breasted F.-- Munia castaneothorax, Gould.
Chestnut-eared F.-- Taeniopygia castanotis, Gould.
Crimson F.-- Neochmia phaeton, Homb. and Jacq.
Fire-tailed F.-- Zonaeginthus bellus, Lath.
Gouldian F.-- Poephila gouldiae, Gould.
Long-tailed F.-- P. acuticauda, Gould.
Masked F.-- P. personata, Gould.
Painted F.-- Emblema picta, Gould.
Plum-head F.-- Aidemosyne modesta, Gould.
Red-browed F.-- AEgintha temporalis, Lath.
Red-eared F.-- Zonaeginthus oculatus, Quoy and Gaim.
Red-tailed F.-- Bathilda ruficauda, Gould.
Scarlet-headed F.-- Poephila mirabilis, Homb. and Jacq.
Spotted-sided F.-- Staganopleura guttata, Shaw.
White-Breasted F.-- Munia pectoralis, Gould.
White-eared F.-- Poephila leucotis, Gould.
Yellow-rumped F.-- Munia flaviprymna, Gould.
(see quotations) is also used as emblematic of the camp-fire in certain ceremonies.
1847. J. D. Lang,' Cooksland,'p. 126, n.:
"When their fire-stick has been extinguished, as is sometimes the case, for their jins or vestal virgins, who have charge of the fire, are not always sufficiently vigilant."
1896. F. J. Gillen, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,'
Anthropology, pt. iv. p. 170:
"Carrying fire-sticks, they place rings, woven of fur and vegetable down, round the boy's neck and arms and sometimes over and under the shoulders; the fire-sticks are then handed to him, the lubras saying: Take care of the fire; keep to your own camp.'"
is known as the Red-head.
1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 78:
"Estrelda Bella, Fire-tailed finch. Fire-tail, Colonists of Van Diemen's Land."
.
; so called because they spring up in great luxuriance where the forest has been burned off.
, Gould; called also the Osprey.
1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. i. pl. 6:
"Pandion Leucocephalus, Gould, White-headed osprey.
Little fish hawk, Colonists of New South Wales. Fish-hawk, Colonists of Swan River."
. to use the hands. The word is not unknown in English in the sense of to grip. (Shakspeare, `Cor.'
IV. v. 124)
1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 366:
"`Fist it,' a colonial expression, which may convey to the uninitiated the idea that knives, forks, plates, etc., are unknown in the bush; such was formerly the case, but the march of improvement has banished this peculiar simplicity."
(q.v.), the fruit of several being edible.
1889. J. H. Maiden,' Useful Native Plants,' p. 61:
"Five-corners. These fruits have a sweetish pulp with a large stone. They form part of the food of the aboriginals, and are much appreciated by school boys. When from a robust plant they are of the size of a large pea, and not at all bad eating."
1896. H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 158:
"Still I see in my fancy the dark-green and blue Of the box-covered hills where the five-corners grew."
--
(1) A tree of Eastern Australia, with profuse bright coral-like flowers, Brachychiton acerifolium, F. v. M., N.O. Sterculiaceae.
(2) A tree of Western Australia, with brilliant orange-coloured flowers, Nuytsia floribunda, N.O. Loranthaceae; which is also called Tree Mistletoe, and, locally, a Cabbage-tree.
1885. R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 96: