paddymelon

n.

the name of a small Wallaby (q.v.), Macropus thetidis, Less. It iscertainly a corruption of an aboriginal name, and is speltvariously pademelon, padmelon, and melon simply.(See Melon-holes.) This word is perhaps the bestinstance in Australia of the law of Hobson-Jobson, by which astrange word is fitted into a language, assuming a likeness toexisting words without any regard to the sense. The Sydneyname for kangaroo was patagorang. See early quotations.This word seems to give the first half of the modern word. Pata, or pada, was the generic name: mellaan adjective denoting the species. Paddymalla (1827)marks an intermediate stage, when one-half of the word had beenanglicised. At Jervis Bay, New South Wales, the word potalemon was used for a kangaroo.

1793. J. Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 547:

«The pattagorang and baggaray frequently supplied ourcolonists with fresh meals, and Governor Phillip had threeyoung ones, which were likely to live: he has not the leastdoubt but these animals are formed in the false belly.»

1798. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New SouthWales,' vol. i. p. 548:

«The pat-ta-go-rang or kangooroo was (bood-yer-re) good, andthey ate it whenever they were fortunate enough to kill one.»

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.p. 310:

«The wallabee and paddymalla grow to about sixty pounds each.»

1830. R. Dawson, `Present State of Australia,' p. 212:

«Had hunted down a paddymelon (a very small species ofkangaroo, which is found in the long grass and thick brushes).»

1845. Clement Hodgkinson, `Australia, from Port Macquarie toMoreton Bay,' p. 45:

«The brush-kangaroos or pademellas were thus graduallyenclosed.»

1846. G. H. Haydon, `Five Years in Australia Felix,' p. 47:

«A small species of the kangaroo tribe, called by the sealerspaddymelon, is found on Philip Island, while none have beenseen on French Island.»

1851. J. Henderson, `Excursions in New South Wales,' vol. ii.p. 129:

«The small kind of kangaroo, however, called by the natives`Paddy Melon,' and which inhabits the dense brushes or jungles,forms a more frequent, and more easily obtained article offood.»

1863. M. K. Beveridge, `Gatherings,' p. 41:

«An apron made from skin of Paddie-Melon.»

1863. B. A. Heywood, `Vacation Tour at the Antipodes,'p. 107:

«In the scrub beyond, numbers of a small kind of kangaroocalled `Paddy – Mellans,' resort.»

[Footnote] «I cannot guarantee the spelling.»

1888. Cassell's' Picturesque Australasia,' vol. ii. p. 90:

«The kangaroo and his relatives, the wallaby and thepaddymelon.»

1890. A. H. S. Lucas, `Handbook of the AustralasianAssociation for the Advancement of Science,' p. 62:

« Onychogale fraenatus and its ally O. lunatus.Mr. Le Souef reports that the former are fairly numerous in theMallee country to the north-west of the Colony, and are thereknown as Pademelon.» [This seems to be only a local use.]

1893. J. L. Purves, Q.C., in `The Argus,' Dec. 14, p. 9,col. 7:

«On either side is a forest, the haunt of wombats andtree-bears, and a few paddymelons.»