Austral English Part 76

Black Eel-- Anguilla australis, Richards.

Conger E.-- Conger vulgaris, Cuv.

Sand E.-- Gonorynchus grayi, Richards.

Serpent E.-- Ophichthys serpens, Linn.

Silver E.-- Congromuroena habenata, Richards.

Tuna E.-- Anguilla aucklandii, Richards.

The Sand Eel does not belong to the Eel family, and is only called an Eel from its habits.

Eel-fish, n. Plotosus tanda.n.u.s, Mitch.e.l.l. Called also Catfish (q.v.), and Tandan (q.v.).

1838. T. L. Mitch.e.l.l, `Three Expeditions,' vol. i. pl. 5, p.. 44 and 95 [Note]:

"Plotosus tanda.n.u.s, tandan or eel-fish. Tandan is the aboriginal name."

Egret, n. an English bird-name. The following species are present in Australia, some being European and others exclusively Australian--

Lesser Egret-- Herodias melanopus, Wagl.

Little E.-- H. garzetta, Linn.

Pied E.-- H. picata, Gould.

Plumed Egret-- H. intermedia, v. Ha.s.selq.

White E.-- H. alba, Linn.

Elder, n. See next word.

Elderberry, Native, n. The two Australian species of the Elder are Sambucus gaudichaudiana, De C., and S. xanthocarpa, F. v. M., N.O. Caprifoliaceae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 56:

"Native elderberry. The fruit of these two native elders is fleshy and sweetish, and is used by the aborigines for food."

Elephant-fish, n. a fish of New Zealand, South Australian, and Tasmanian waters, Callorhynchus antarcticus, Lacep., family Chimaeridae. "It has a cartilaginous prominence of the snout, ending in a cutaneous flap" (Gunth.), suggesting a comparison with an elephant's trunk. Called also King of the Herrings (q.v.).

1802. G. Barrington, `Voyage to New South Wales,' p. 388:

"The sea affords a much greater plenty, and at least as great a variety as the land; of these the elephant fish were very palatable food."

Ellangowan Poison-bush, n. a Queensland name for Myoporum deserti, Cunn., N.O. Myoporinae,; called "Dogwood Poison-bush" in New South Wales. Ellangowan is on the Darling Downs in Queensland. Poisonous to sheep, but only when in fruit.

Emanc.i.p.atist, and Emancipist, n. (the latter, the commoner), an ex-convict who has served out his sentence. The words are never used now except historically.

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

vol. ii. p. 118:

"Emigrants who have come out free from England, and emancipists, who have arrived here as convicts, and have either been pardoned or completed their term of servitude."

1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 302:

"Men who had formerly been convicts, but who, after their period of servitude had expired, were called `emancipists.'"

1837. Jas. Mudie, `Felonry of New South Wales,' p. vii:

"The author begs leave to record his protest against the abuse of language to the misapplication of the terms emancipists and absentees to two portions of the colonial felonry. An emancipist could not be understood to mean the emanc.i.p.ated but the emanc.i.p.ator. Mr. Wilberforce may be honoured with the t.i.tle of emancipist; but it is as absurd to give the same appellation to the emanc.i.p.ated felons of New South Wales as it would be to bestow it upon the emanc.i.p.ated negroes of the West Indies."

1845. J. O. Balfour, `Sketch of New South Wales,' p. 69:

"The same emancipist will, however, besides private charity, be among the first and greatest contributors to a new church."

1852. `Fraser's Magazine,' vol. xlvi. p. 135:

"The convict obtained his ticket-of-leave ... became an emancipist ... and found transportation no punishment."

Emu, n. an Australian bird, Dromaius novae-hollandiae, Lath. There is a second species, Spotted Emu, Dromaius irroratus, Bartlett. An earlier, but now unusual, spelling is Emeu. Emeus is the scientific name of a New Zealand genus of extinct struthious birds. The word Emu is not Australian, but from the Portuguese Ema, the name first of the Crane, afterwards of the Ostrich. Formerly the word Emu was used in English for the Ca.s.sowary, and even for the American Ostrich.

Since 1885 an Emu has been the design on the twopenny postage stamp of New South Wales.

1613. `Purchas Pilgrimmage,' pt. I. Vol v. c. xii. p. 430 (`O.E.D.'):

"The bird called Emia or Eme is admirable."

1774. Oliver Goldsmith, `Natural History,' vol. iii. p. 69, Book III. c. v. [Heading]

"The Emu."

1788. `History of New South Wales' (1818), p. 53:

"A bird of the ostrich genus, but of a species very different from any other in the known world, was killed and brought in. Its length was between seven and eight feet; its flesh was good and thought to resemble beef. It has obtained the name of the New South Wales Emu."

1789. Captain W. Tench, `Expedition to Botany Bay,' p. 123:

"The bird which princ.i.p.ally claims attention is a species of ostrich, approaching nearer to the emu of South America than any other we know of."

1793 Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 69:

"Some were of opinion that it was the emew, which I think is particularly described by Dr. Goldsmith from Linneus: others imagined it to be the ca.s.sowary, but it far exceeds that bird in size ... two distinct feathers grew out from every quill."

1802. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New South Wales,'

vol. ii. p. 307:

"These birds have been p.r.o.nounced by Sir Joseph Banks, of whose judgment none can entertain a doubt, to come nearer to what is known of the American ostrich than to either the emu of India or the ostrich of Africa."