or Bogong, or Bougong
,
an Australian moth, Danais limniace, or Agrotis spina, eaten by the aborigines.
1834. Rev. W. B. Clarke, `Researches in the Southern Gold Fieldsof New South Wales' (second edition), p. 228:
«These moths have obtained their name from their occurrence onthe `Bogongs' or granite mountains. They were described by myfriend Dr. Bennett in his interesting work on `New SouthWales,' 1832-4, as abundant on the Bogong Mountain, TumutRiver. I found them equally abundant, and in full vigour, inDecember, coming in clouds from the granite peaks of theMuniong Range. The blacks throw them on the fire and eatthem.»
1859. H. Kingsley, `Geoffrey Hamlyn,' p. 355:
«The westward range is called the Bougongs. The blacks duringsummer are in the habit of coming thus far to collect and feedon the great grey moths (bougongs) which are found on therocks.»
1871. `The Athenaeum,' May 27, p. 660:
«The Gibbs Land and Murray districts have been divided into thefollowing counties: . . . Bogong (native name of grubs andmoths).»
1878. R. Brough Smyth, `The Aborigines of Victoria,'vol. i. p. 207
«The moths – – the Bugong moths( Agrolis suffusa) aregreedily devoured by the natives; and in former times, whenthey were in season, they assembled in great numbers to eatthere, and they grew fat on this food.» [Also a long footnote.]
1890. Richard Helms, `Records of the Australian Museum,'vol. i. No. 1:
«My aim was to obtain some `Boogongs,' the native name for themoths which so abundantly occur on this range, and no doubthave given it its name.»
1896. `Sydney Mail,' April 4, Answers to Correspondents:
«It cannot be stated positively, but it is thought that thename of the moth `bogong' is taken from that of the mountain.The meaning of the word is not known, but probably it is anaboriginal word.»