Austral English Part 50

"It's our way up here, you know, to chi-ak each other and our visitors too."

Cicada, n. an insect. See Locust.

1895. G. Metcalfe, `Australian Zoology,' p. 62:

"The Cicada is often erroneously called a locust... . It is remarkable for the loud song, or chirruping whirr, of the males in the heat of summer; numbers of them on the hottest days produce an almost deafening sound."

Cider-Tree, or Cider-Gum, n. name given in Tasmania to Eucalyptus gunnii, Hook., N.O. Myrtaceae. See Gum.

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

"Specimens of that species of eucalyptus called the cider-tree, from its exuding a quant.i.ty of saccharine liquid resembling mola.s.ses... . When allowed to remain some time and to ferment, it settles into a coa.r.s.e sort of wine or cider, rather intoxicating if drank to any excess."

City, n. In Great Britain and Ireland the word City denotes "a considerable town that has been, (a) an episcopal seat, (b) a royal burgh, or (c) created to the dignity, like Birmingham, Dundee, and Belfast, by a royal patent. In the United States and Canada, a munic.i.p.ality of the first cla.s.s, governed by a mayor and aldermen, and created by charter." (`Standard.') In Victoria, by section ix. of the Local Government Act, 1890, 54 Victoria, No. 1112, the Governor-in-Council may make orders, #12:

"To declare any borough, including the city of Melbourne and the town of Geelong, having in the year preceding such declaration a gross revenue of not less than twenty thousand pounds, a city."

Claim, n. in mining, a piece of land appropriated for mining purposes: then the mine itself.

The word is also used in the United States. See also Reward-claim and Prospecting-claim.

1858. T. McCombie, `History of Victoria,' c. xiv. p. 213:

"A family named Cavanagh ... entered a half-worked claim."

1863. H. Fawcett, `Political Economy,' pt. iii. c. vi.

p. 359 (`O.E.D.'):

"The claim upon which he purchases permission to dig."

1887. H. H. Hayter, `Christmas Adventure,' p. 3:

"I decided ... a claim to take up."

Clay-pan, n. name given, especially in the dry interior of Australia, to a slight depression of the ground varying in size from a few yards to a mile in length, where the deposit of fine silt prevents the water from sinking into the ground as rapidly as it does elsewhere.

1875. John Forrest, `Explorations in Australia,' p. 260:

"We travelled down the road for about thirty-three miles over stony plains; many clay-pans with water but no feed."

1896. Baldwin Spencer, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,'

Narrative, vol. i. p. 17:

"One of the most striking features of the central area and especially amongst the loamy plains and sandhills, is the number of clay-pans. These are shallow depressions, with no outlet, varying in length from a few yards to half a mile, where the surface is covered with a thin clayey material, which seems to prevent the water from sinking as rapidly as it does in other parts."

Clean-skins, or Clear-skins, n. unbranded cattle or horses.

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 206:

"These clean-skins, as they are often called, to distinguish them from the branded cattle."

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. xv. p. 109:

"Strangers and pilgrims, calves and clear-skins, are separated at the same time."

1889. Rev. J. H. Zillmann, `Australian Life,' p. 82:

"`Clear-skins,' as unbranded cattle were commonly called, were taken charge of at once."

1893. `The Argus,' April 29, p.4, col. 4:

"As they fed slowly homeward bellowing for their calves, and lowing for their mates, the wondering clean-skins would come up in a compact body, tearing, ripping, kicking, and moaning, working round and round them in awkward, loblolly canter."

Clearing lease, n. Explained in quotation.

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discoveries in Australia,' vol. i. c. x.

p. 321:

"[They] held a small piece of land on what is called a clearing lease--that is to say, they were allowed to retain possession of it for so many years for the labour of clearing the land."

Clematis, n. the scientific and vernacular name of a genus of plants belonging to the N.O. Ranunculaceae. The common species in Australia is C. aristata, R. Br.

1834. Ross, `Van Diemen's Land Annual,' p. 124:

"The beautiful species of clematis called aristata, which may be seen in the months of November and December, spreading forth its milk-white blossoms over the shrubs ... in other places rising up to the top of the highest gum-trees."

Clianthus, n. scientific name for an Australasian genus of plants, N.O. Leguminosae, containing only two species--in Australia, Sturt's Desert Pea (q.v.), C. dampieri; and in New Zealand, the Kaka-bill (q.v.), C. puniceus. Both species are also called Glory-Pea, from Grk. kleos, glory, and anthos, a flower.

1892. `Otago Witness,' Nov.24, `Native Trees':

"Hooker says the genus Clianthus consists of the Australian and New Zealand species only, the latter is therefore clearly indigenous. `One of the most beautiful plants known' (Hooker). Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solandel found it during Cook's first voyage."

Climbing-fish, n. i.q. Hopping-fish (q.v.).

Climbing-Pepper, n. See Pepper.

c.l.i.tonyx, n. the scientific name of a genus of New Zealand birds, including the Yellow-head (q.v.) and the White-head (q.v.); from Greek klinein, root klit, to lean, slant, and 'onux, claw. The genus was so named by Reichenbach in 1851, to distinguish the New Zealand birds from the Australian birds of the genus Orthonyx (q.v.), which formerly included them both.

Clock-bird, n. another name for the Laughing Jacha.s.s. See Jacka.s.s.

Clock, Settlers', n. i.q. Clock-bird, (q.v.)

Cloudy-Bay Cod, n. a New Zealand name for the Ling (q.v.). See also Cod.

Clover-Fern, n. another name for the plant called Nardoo (q.v.).

Clover, Menindie, n. an Australian fodder plant, Trigonella suavissima, Lind., N.O. Leguminoseae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 143: