wattle-bird

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

n.


an Australian bird, so calledfrom the wattles or fleshy appendages hanging to his ear. Inthe Yellow species they are an inch long. The speciesare – – Brush Wattle-bird – – Anelobia mellivora, Lath.

♣ Little W. – – A. lunulata, Gould.

♣ Red W. – – Acanthochaera carunculata, Lath.

♣ Yellow W. – – A. inauris, Gould.

The earlier scientific names occur in the quotation, 1848.In New Zealand, the Kokako (q.v.) is also called a Wattle-bird, and the name used to be applied to the Tui (q.v.).

1820. W. C. Wentworth, `Description of New South Wales,'p. 152:

«The wattle-bird, which is about the size of a snipe,and considered a very great delicacy.»

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

« Anthochaera inauris, Wattled Honey-eater; Wattled Birdof the Colonists of Van Diemen's Land» (pl. 54).« A. Carunculata, Wattled Bird of the Colonists; the Merops Carunculatus of older writers «(pl. 55).» A. Mellivora, Vig. and Horsf., Bush Wattle Bird «(pl. 56). « A. Lunulata, Gould, Little Wattle Bird,Colonists of Swan River» (pl. 57).

1857. W. Howitt, `Tallangetta,' vol. ii. p. 11:

«Kangaroo-steaks frying on the fire, with a piece of coldbeef, and a wattle-bird pie also ready on the board.»

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

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

1864. E. F. Hughes, `Portland Bay,' p. 9:

«Tedious whistle of the Wattle-bird.»

186. W. Howitt, `Discovery in Australia, vol. i. p. 111:

«This bird they called the Wattle-bird, and also the Poy-bird,from its having little tufts of curled hair under its throat,which they called poies, from the Otaheitan word for ear-rings.The sweetness of this bird's note they described asextraordinary, and that its flesh was delicious, but that itwas a shame to kill it.»

1885. J. Hood, `Land of Fern,' p. 36:

«The wattle-bird, with joyous scream

Bathes her soft plumage in the cooling stream.»

1871. T. Bracken, `Behind the Tomb,' p. 79:

«The wattle-bird sings in the leafy plantation.»

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 119:

«The pretty, graceful wattle-birds are . . . much esteemedfor the table, cooked as snipe and woodcocks are in England. . . Our pretty, elegant wattle-bird wears a pair of longpendant drops, shaded from the deepest amber to white, lovelierthan any goldsmith's work. Its greyish plumage, too, is verybeautiful; the feathers on the breast are long, pointed, andtinted with golden yellow.»

1890. Tasma, `In her Earliest Youth,' p. 265:

«The droll double note of the wattle-bird.»

1890. `Victorian Statutes-Game Act' (Third Schedule):

«Close season. All Honey-eaters (except Wattle-birds and

Leatherheads); from 1st day of August to loth day of December.»

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

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