friar-bird

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

n. an Australian bird, of the genuscalled Philemon, but originally named Tropidorhynchus (q.v.). It is a honey-eater, and isalso called Poor Soldier and other names; see quotation,1848. The species are – – Friar-Bird – – Philemon corniculatus, Lath. [Called also Leather-head, q.v.]


♣ Helmeted F. – – P. buceroides, Swains.

♣ Little F. – – P. sordidus, Gould.

♣ Silvery-crowned F. – – P. argenticeps, Gould.

♣ Yellow-throated F. – P. citreogularis, Gould.

♣ Western F. – – P. occidentalis, Ramsay.

1798. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New SouthWales,' p. 615 (Vocab.):

«Wirgan, – – bird named by us the friar.»

1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,'vol. xv. p. 324:

« Friar, – – a very common bird about Paramatta, called bythe natives ` coldong:' It repeats the words `poorsoldier' and `four o'clock' very distinctly.»

1845. `Voyage to Port Phillip,' p. 53:

«The cheerful sedge-wren and the bald-head friar,

The merry forest-pie with joyous song.»

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iv. pl. 58:

« Tropidorhynchus Corniculatus, Vig. and Hors.

«From the fancied resemblance of its notes to those words,it has obtained from the Colonists the various names of `PoorSoldier,' `Pimlico,' `Four o'clock,' etc. Its bare head andneck have also suggested the names of `Friar Bird,' `Monk,'`Leather Head,' etc.»

1855. W. Blandowski, `Transactions of the Philosophical Societyof Victoria,' vol. i. p. 64:

«The Tropidorhynchus corniculatus is well known to thecolonists by the names `poor soldier,' `leather-headedjackass,' `friar-bird,' etc. This curious bird, in common withseveral other varieties of honey-eaters, is remarkable onaccount of its extreme liveliness and the singular resemblanceof its notes to the human voice.»

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

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