Austral English Part 21

"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 gra.s.s-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 Ill.u.s.tration):

"The Blackboy trees are a species of gra.s.s-tree or Xanthorrhoea, exuding a gummy substance used by the blacks for fastening gla.s.s 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 s.h.i.+p coming into harbour, and so intently that I rode over a young blackboy." The officer was shocked at her callousness in expressing no contrition.

Black-Bream, n. an Australian fish, Chrysophrys australis, Gunth., family Sparidae, or Sea-Breams; called in Tasmania Silver-Bream, the fish there called Black-Bream being another of the Sparidae, Girella tricuspidata, Cuv. and Val.

See Tarwhine and Black-fish.

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."

Blackb.u.t.t, n. Eucalyptus pilularis, Smith, Victoria; E. regnans, F. v. M., New South Wales; a timber tree, a gum. Another name is Flintwood. The lower part of the trunk is black.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 49:

"The range ... having with the exception of the Blackb.u.t.t 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 b.u.t.t and tallow wood were the most durable and noiseless woods for street-paving, as well as the best from a sanitary point of view."

Black-Cod, n. a New Zealand fish, Notothenia angustata.

Blackfellow, n. an aboriginal Australian.

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 w.a.n.garaday In a blackfellow's own peculiar way."

Black-Fern, n. The Tasmanian species so called is Athyrium australe, Presl., N.O. Polypodeae.

Black-fish, n. The name is given, especially in Sydney, to the sea-fishes Girella simplex, Richards (see Ludrick), and Girella tricuspidata, Cuv. and Val.; also to a fresh-water fish all over Australia, Gadopsis marmoratus, Richards. G. marmoratus is very common in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and parts of Tasmania. There are local varieties. It is much esteemed as a food fish, but is, like all mud fishes, rich and oily. Girella belongs to the family Sparida, or Sea-Breams, and Gadopsis to the Gadopsidae, a family allied to that containing the Cod fishes. The name was also formerly applied to a whale.

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 fis.h.i.+ng 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."

Black-Line. See Black-War.

Black-Perch, n. a river fish of New South Wales.

Therapon niger, Castln., family Percidae.

A different fish from those to which the name is applied elsewhere. See Perch.

Black-and-white Ringed Snake. See under Snake.

Black Rock-Cod, n. an Australian fish, chiefly of New South Wales, Serra.n.u.s daemeli, Gunth.; a different fish from the Rock-Cod of the northern hemisphere. The Serrani belong to the family Percidae, and are commonly called "Sea-perches."

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

p. 33:

"The genus Serra.n.u.s 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' (Serra.n.u.s damelii, Guenther), without exception the very best of all our fishes."

Black-Snake. See under Snake.

Black-Swan. See Swan.

Black Thursday, the day of a Victorian conflagration, which occurred on Feb. 6, 1851. The thermometer was 112 degrees in the shade. Ashes from the fire at Macedon, 46 miles away, fell in Melbourne. The scene forms the subject of the celebrated picture ent.i.tled "Black Thursday," by William Strutt, R.B.A.

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: