forty-spot

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


name for a bird,a Pardalote (q.v.). Pardalote itself meansspotted «like the pard.» See also Diamond-bird.

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. ii. pl. 37:

« Pardalotus quadragintus, Gould, Forty-spottedpardalote. Forty-spot, Colonists of Van Diemen's Land.»

1896. `The Australasian,' Aug. 28, p. 407, col. 5:

«`Lyre bird' is obvious; so, too, is `forty-spot'; only onewonders why the number 40 was pitched upon. Was it a guess?Or did the namer first shoot the bird and count?»

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