Austral English Part 6

Oak A.-- Cones of Casuarina stricta, Ait.

Rose A.-- Owenia cerasifera, F. v. M.

1820. John Oxley, `Journal of Two Expeditions into the Interior of New South Wales,' p. 187:

"The blue gum trees in the neighbourhood were extremely fine, whilst that species of Eucalyptus, which is vulgarly called the apple-tree ... again made its appearance... ."

1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,'

vol. xv. p. 260:

"It builds its nest of sticks lined with gra.s.s in Iron-bark and Apple-trees (a species of Angophora)."

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,'

vol. i. p. 200:

"The apple-trees resemble the English apple only in leaf."

1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 195:

"In looking down upon the rich flats below, adjoining the stream, I was perpetually reminded of a thriving and rich apple-orchard. The resemblance of what are called apple-trees in Australia to those of the same name at home is so striking at a distance in these situations, that the comparison could not be avoided, although the former bear no fruit, and do not even belong to the same species."

1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 52:

"I have heard of men employed in felling whole apple-trees (Angophera lanceolata) for the sheep."

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

iv. p. 132;

"Red Apple, Quonui, affects salt grounds."

1847. J. D. Lang, `Phillipsland,' p. 256:

"The plains, or rather downs, around it (Ya.s.s) are thinly but most picturesquely covered with `apple-trees,' as they are called by the colonists, merely from their resemblance to the European apple-tree in their size and outline, for they do not resemble it in producing an edible fruit."

1850. J. B. Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip in 1849,' p. 32:

"The musk-plant, hyacinth, gra.s.s-tree, and kangaroo apple-tree are indigenous."

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes' (edition 1855), p. 219:

"Pomona would indignantly disown the apple-tree, for there is not the semblance of a pippin on its tufted branches."

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 113:

"Sandy apple-tree flats, and iron-bark ridges, lined the creek here on either side."

1896. H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 158:

"The desolate flats where gaunt apple-trees rot."

Apple-berry, n. the fruit of an Australian shrub, Billardiera scandens, Smith, N.O. Pittosporeae, called by children "dumplings."

1793. J. E. Smith, `Specimen of Botany of New Holland,' pp. 1, 3:

"Billardiera scandens. Climbing Apple Berry. . . .

The name Billardiera is given it in honour of James Julian la Billardiere, M.D., F.M.L.S., now engaged as botanist on board the French s.h.i.+ps sent in search of M. de la Peyrouse."

Apple-gum, n. See Gum.

Apple-scented gum, n. See Gum.

Apteryx, n. [Grk. 'a privative and pterux, a wing.] A New Zealand bird about the size of a domestic fowl, with merely rudimentary wings.See Kiwi.

1813. G. Shaw, `Naturalist's Miscellany.' c. xxiv. p. 1058 (`O.E.D.'):

"The Southern Apteryx."

1848. W. Westgarth, `Australia Felix,' p. 137:

"The present Apterix or wingless bird of that country (New Zealand)."

1851. `Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land,' vol. i. p. 300 [Letter from Rev. W. Colenso, Waitangi, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, Sept. 4, 1850:

"You enquire after an Apteryx. How delighted should I be to succeed in getting you one. Three years ago Owen expressed a similar wish, and I have repeatedly tried, but failed. Yet here they still are in the mountain forests, though, doubtless, fast hastening towards extinction. I saw one in its wild state two years ago in the dense woods of the interior; I saw it clearly... . Two living specimens were lately taken by the Acheron, steamer, to Sydney, where they died; these were obtained at the Bay of Islands, where also I once got three at one time. Since then I have not been able to obtain another, although I have offered a great price for one.

The fact is, the younger natives do not know how to take them, and the elder ones having but few wants, and those fully supplied, do not care to do so. Further, they can only be captured by night, and the dog must be well trained to be of service."

1874. F. P. Cobbe, in `Littell's Age,' Nov. 7, p. 355 (`Standard'):

"We have clipped the wings of Fancy as close as if she were an Apteryx.'

Arbutus, Native, n. See Wax-Cl.u.s.ter.

Ardoo, n. See Nardoo.

Artichoke, n. name given to the plant Astelia Alpina, R. Br., N.O. Liliaceae.

Ash, n. The name, with various epithets, is applied to the following different Australasian trees--

Black Ash-- Nephelium semiglauc.u.m, F. v. M., N.O. Sapindaceae; called also Wild Quince.

Black Mountain A.-- Eucalyptus leuc.o.xylon, F. v. M., N.O. Myrtaceae.

Blue A.-- Elaeodendron australe, Vent., N.O. Celastrinae.

Blueberry A.-- Elaeocarpus holopetalus, F. v. M., N.O. Tiliaceae.

Brush Apple-- Acronychia baueri, Schott. (of Illawarra, N.S.W.).