Austral English Part 155

Mackerel, n. In Australia, s...o...b..r antarcticus, Castln., said to be identical with s...o...b..r pneumatophorus, De la Roche, the European mackerel; but rare. In New Zealand, s...o...b..r australasicus, Cuv. and Val.

Macquarie Harbour Grape, or Macquarie Harbour Vine, n. the Tasmanian name for Muhlenbeckia adpressa, Meissn. N.O. Polygonaceae; called Native Ivy in Australia. See Ivy and Grape.

1831. Ross, `Hobart Town Almanack,' p. 265:

"That valuable plant called the Macquarie harbour grape.

It was so named by Mr. Lempriere, late of the Commissariat at that station, who first brought it into notice as a desirable acquisition in our gardens."

1834. Ross, `Van Diemen's Land Annual,' p. 133:

"Polygonum adpressum. The Macquarie harbour vine, either as an insignificant trailing plant, or as a magnificent climber, according to the soil and situation, is found on the coast of various parts of Van Diemen's Land, and also as far inland as within about four miles of New Norfolk. This plant has a small but sweet fruit, formed of the thickened divisions of the calyx of the flower, inclosing a triangular seed of unpleasant flavour."

Macquarie Pine, n. See Pine.

Macropus, n. the scientific name for the typical genus of Macropodidae, established by Shaw in 1800. From the Greek makropous, long-footed. It includes the Kangaroo (q.v.) and Wallaby (q.v.).

M. giganteus, Zimm., is the Giant Kangaroo, or Forester (q.v.).

Mado, n. a Sydney fish, Therapon cuvieri, Bleek; called also Trumpeter-Perch.

Atypus strigatus, Gunth., is also called Mado by the Sydney fishermen, who confound it with the first species.

The name is probably aboriginal.

Magpie, n. a black-and-white Crow-Shrike, present all over Australia. He resembles the English Magpie in general appearance, but has not the long tail of that bird, though he shares with him his kleptomania. He is often called the Bush-magpie (q.v.) by townsfolk, to distinguish him from the tamed specimens kept in many gardens, or in cages, which are easily taught to talk. The species are--

Black-backed Magpie-- Gymnorhina tibicen, Lath.; called also Flute-Bird (q.v.).

Long-billed M.-- G. dorsalis, Campbell.

White, or Organ M.-- G. organic.u.m, Gould; called also Organ-bird (q.v.).

White-backed M.-- G. leuconota, Gould.

In Tasmania, the name is also applied to the--

Black Magpie-- Strepera fuliginosa, Gould; and S. arguta, Gould.

1859. H. Kingsley, `Geoffr/e/y Hamlyn,' vol. ii. p. 314 [Footnote]:

"Magpie, a large, pied crow.Of all the birds I have ever seen, the cleverest, the most grotesque, and the most musical. The splendid melody of his morning and evening song is as unequalled as it is indescribable."

1869. B. h.o.a.re, `Figures of Fancy,' p. 97:

"Gay magpies chant the livelong day."

1886. T. Heney, `Fortunate Days,' p. 47:

"The magpie swells from knoll or silent brake His loud sweet tune."

1887. `Melbourne Punch,' March 31:

"The magpie maketh mute His mellow fluent flute, Nor chaunteth now his leuconotic hymn."

Magpie-Goose, n. a common name for the Australian Goose, Ansera.n.u.s melanoleuca, Lath.; called also Swan-goose, and Pied goose.

See Goose.

Magpie-Lark, n. an Australian black-and-white bird (Grallina picata, Lath.), resembling the Magpie in appearance, but smaller; called also Pee-wee, and Mudlark, from its building its nest of mud.

1888. Ca.s.sell's `Picturesque Australasia,' vol. ii. p. 235:

"The little magpie-lark... . His more elegant and graceful figure remains in modest silence by the hedgerow in the outskirts."

Magpie-Perch, n. a West Australian, Victorian, and Tasmanian fish, Chilodactylus gibbosus, Richards.; not a true Perch, but of family Cirrhitidae.

Magra, n. aboriginal name for the sling or pouch in which the gins carry their children on their backs.

1845. R. Howitt, `Australia,' p. 185:

"Other lesser brats were in magras, gipsy-like, at their mothers' backs."

On p. 191, Mr. Howitt uses the form "mogra."

Mahoe, n. Maori name for the New Zealand Whitewood-tree, Melicytus ramiflorus, Forst., N.O. Violarieae.

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 447:

"Mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus) grows to the height of about fifty feet, and has a fine thin spiral leaf."

1863. Thomas Moser, `Mahoe Leaves':

[t.i.tle of a volume of articles about the Maoris.]

1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,' p. 130:

"Mahoe, hinahina. A small tree twenty to thirty feet high; trunk often angular and seven feet in girth. The word is soft and not in use... . Leaves greedily eaten by cattle."

Mahogany, n. The name, with varying epithets, is applied to several Australian trees, chiefly Eucalypts, on account of the redness or hardness of their timber, and its applicability to purposes similar to that of the true Mahogany. The following enumeration is compiled from Maiden's `Useful Native Plants'

Mahogany, Tristania conferta, R. Br., N.O.

Myrtaceae; called also White Box, Red Box, Brush Box, b.a.s.t.a.r.d Box, Brisbane Box. This bark is occasionally used for tanning.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d Mahogany, or Gippsland Mahogany, or Swamp Mahogany, Eucalyptus botryoides, Smith, N.O. Myrtaceae.

The Blue Gum of New South Wales coast districts. b.a.s.t.a.r.d Mahogany of Gippsland and New South Wales; called also Swamp Mahogany in Victoria and New South Wales. It also bears the names of b.a.s.t.a.r.d Jarrah, and occasionally Woolly b.u.t.t. Sydney workmen often give it the name Bangalay, by which it was formerly known by the aboriginals of Port Jackson. It is one of four colonial timbers recommended by the Victorian Carriage Timber Board for use in the construction of railway carriages.

Specimens from Gippsland (Gippsland Mahogany) are spoken of as "a timber of good colour, as strong as Blue Gum."

Mahogany, or b.a.s.t.a.r.d Mahogany, Eucalyptus marginata, Smith, N.O. Myrtaceae. Universally known as Jarrah. In Western Australia it also bears the name of Mahogany, or b.a.s.t.a.r.d Mahogany.

Forest or Red Mahogany, Eucalyptus resinifera, Smith, N.O. Myrtaceae; called also Jimmy Low (q.v.).

Forest Mahogany, Eucalyptus microcorys, F. v. M., N.O. Myrtaceae. In Queensland it is known as Peppermint, the foliage being remarkably rich in volatile oil.

But its almost universal name is Tallow Wood (q.v.).