soldier-bird

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

I.


or Poor Soldier,or Old-Soldier bird

n.

anothername for the Friar-bird (q.v.).

1859. D. Bunce, `Australasiatic Reminiscences,' p. 62:

«The notes peculiar to the Ornithorhynchus paradoxus,or platypus, wattle-bird, and leather-head, or oldsoldier bird, added in no small degree to the novelties. . . .The wattle-bird has been not inaptly termed the `what'so'clock,' – – the leather-head the `stop where-you-are.'»

[Mr. Bunce's observations are curiously confused. The`Soldier-bird' is also called `Four o'clock,' but it isdifficult to say what `wattle bird' is called `what's o'clock';the `notes' of the platypus must be indeed `peculiar.']

1896. Mrs. Langloh Parker, `Australian Legendary Tales,'p. 108 [Title of Tale]:

«Deegeenboyah the Soldier-bird.»

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