Austral English Part 203

[should be vol. ii. not 2nd ed.], 4to. p. 62, 1802, where it is named Ornithorhyncus paradoxus, Blum...

There is a rude figure given of this animal in Collins's work."

1884. Marcus Clarke, `Memorial Volume,' p. 177:

"The Platypus Club is in Camomile Street, and the Platypi are very haughty persons."

1890. `Victorian Statutes--the Game Act' (Third Schedule):

[Close Season.] "Platypus. The whole year."

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 30:

"In the Dee river ... I observed several times the remarkable platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) swimming rapidly about after the small water-insects and vegetable particles which const.i.tute its food. It shows only a part of its back above water, and is so quick in its movements that it frequently dives under water before the shot can reach it."

1891. `Guide to Zoological Gardens, Melbourne':

"In the next division the platypus and its burrows are shown.

These curious oviparous animals commence their long burrows under water, and work upwards into dry ground. The nest is constructed in a little chamber made of dry leaves and gra.s.s, and is very warm and comfortable; there is a second entrance on dry ground. The young are found in the months of September and October, but occasionally either a little earlier or later; generally two or three at a time."

1892. A. Sutherland, `Elementary Geography of British Colonies,' p. 273:

"The platypus is covered with fur like an otter, and has four webbed feet, like those of a duck, and a black duck-like bill.

It makes a burrow in a river bank, but with an opening below the level of the water. It swims and dives in quiet shady river-bends, and disappears on hearing the least noise."

1894. R. Lydekker, `Marsupialia,' p. 233:

"The duck-bill was originally described under the name of Platypus anatinus, which was Anglicised into duck-billed platypus, but since the generic name [Platypus] had been previously employed for another group of animals, it had, by the rules of zoological nomenclature, to give place to the later Ornithorhynchus, although Shaw's specific name ofanatina still holds good. On these grounds it is likewise preferable to discard the Anglicised term Duck-billed Platypus in favour of the simpler Duck-bill or Duck-Mole."

[Mr. Lydekker is a scientific Englishman, who has not lived in Australia, and although the names of Duck-bill and Duck-mole are perhaps preferable for more exact scientific use, yet by long usage the name Platypus has become the ordinary vernacular name, and is the one by which the animal will always be known in Australian popular language.]

Plover, n. The bird called the Plover exists all over the world. The species present in Australia are--

Black-breasted Plover-- Sarciophorus pectoralis, Cuv.

Golden P.-- Charadrius fulvus, Gmel.

Grey P.-- C. helveticus, Linn.

Long-billed Stone P.-- Esacus magnirostris, Geoff.

Masked P.-- Lobivanellus personatus, Gould.

Spur-winged P.-- Lobivanellus lobatus, Lath.

Stone P.-- OEdicnemus grallarius, Lath.

And in New Zealand--Red-breasted Plover, Charadrius obscurus, Gmel. (Maori name, Tututuriwhata); Crook-billed, Anarhynchus frontalis, Quoy and Gaim.

The authorities vary in the vernacular names and in the scientific cla.s.sification. See also Sand-Plover and Wry-billed-Plover.

Plum, n. sometimes called Acacia Plum, a timber tree, Eucryphia moorei, F. v. M., N.O. Saxifrageae; called also Acacia and "White Sally."

Plum, Black, n. the fruit of the tree Cargillia australis, R. Br., N.O. Ebenaceae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 14:

"The fruits are of the size of a large plum and of a dark purple colour. They are eaten by the aboriginals."

Plum, Burdekin, or Sweet Plum, n.

a timber tree, Spondias pleiogyna, F. v. M., N.O. Anacardiaceae. Wood like American walnut.

Plum, Grey, n. (1) A timber-tree.

One of the names for Cargillia pentamera, F. v. M., N.O. Ebenaceae. Wood used for tool-handles.

(2) Provincial name for the Caper-Tree (q.v.).

Plum, Native, or Wild Plum, n.

another name for the Brush-Apple. See Apple.

The Native Plum, peculiar to Tasmania, and called also Port-Arthur Plum, is Cenarrhenes nitida, Lab., N.O. Proteaceae.

Plum, Queensland, n. i.q. Sweet Plum (q.v. infra).

Plum, Sour, n. another name for Emu-Apple (q.v.).

Plum, Sweet, n. a wild fruit, Owenia venosa, F. v. M., N.O. Meliaceae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 49:

"Queensland Plum, Sweet Plum. This plant bears a fine juicy red fruit with a large stone... . It is both palatable and refres.h.i.+ng."

Plum, White, n. local name for Acacia (q.v.).

Plum, Wild, n. i.q. Native Plum (q.v.).

Plum-tree, n. the tree, Buchanania mangoides, F. v. M., N.O. Anacardiaceae.

Podargus, n. scientific name of a genus of Australian birds, called the Frogsmouth (q.v.) and Mopoke. From Grk. podargos, swift or white-footed. (Hector's horse in the `Iliad' was named Podargus.--`Il.' viii. 185.)

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

[Close Season.] "Podargus or Mopokes, the whole year."

Poddly, n. a New Zealand and Australian fish, Sebastes percoides, Richards.; called in Victoria Red-Gurnet Perch. The name is applied in England to a different fish.

1872. Hutton and Hector, `Fishes of New Zealand,' p. 108:

"The pohuia-karou is the proper sea-perch of these waters, that name having been applied by mistake to a small wra.s.se, which is generally called the spotty or poddly."

Poddy, n. a Victorian name for the Sand-Mullet. See Mullet.

Poe, n. same as Tui (q.v.) and Parson-bird (q.v.). The name, which was not the Maori name, did not endure.