Austral English Part 186

1883. `Encyclopaedia Britannica' (ed. 9) [On the Australian animal], vol. xv. p. 382:

"A numerous group, varying in size from that of a mouse to a large cat, arboreal in their habits and abundantly distributed throughout the Australian region ... have the tail more or less prehensile... . These are the typical phalangers or `opossums,' as they are commonly called in Australia. (Genus Phalangista.)"

Ibid. p. 380 [On the American animal]:

"The Didelphidae, or true opossums, differ from all other marsupials in their habitat, being peculiar to the American continent. They are mostly carnivorous or insectivorous in their diet, and arboreal in habits."

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 11:

"Among the colonists the younger generation are very zealous opossum hunters. They hunt them for sport, going out by moonlight and watching the animal as it goes among the trees to seek its food."

1891. `Guide to Zoological Gardens, Melbourne':

"We see two fine pairs of the Tasmanian sooty opossum (Phalangista fuliginosa); this species is unapproached by any other in regard to size and the beauty of its fur, which is of a rich, fulvous brown colour. This opossum is becoming scarce in Tasmania on account of the value of its fur, which makes it much sought after. In the next compartment are a pair of short-eared opossums (P. canina), the mountain opossums of Southern Australia. The next is a pair of vulpine opossums; these are the common variety, and are found all over the greater part of Australia, the usual colour of this kind being grey."

1893. `Melbourne Stock and Station Journal,' May 10 (advertis.e.m.e.nt):

"Kangaroo, wallaby, opossum, and rabbit skins... .

Opossum skins, ordinary firsts to 7s. 6d; seconds to 3s.; thirds to 1s. 6d; silver greys up to 9s. per doz.; do.

mountain, to 18s. per doz."

Opossum-Mouse, n. the small Australian marsupial, Acrobates pygmaeus, Shaw; more correctly called the Pigmy Flying-Phalanger. See Flying- Phalanger. This is the animal generally so denoted, and it is also called the Flying-Mouse. But there is an intermediate genus, Dromicia (q.v.), with no parachute expansion on the flanks, not "flying," of which the name of Dormouse-Phalanger is the more proper appellation. The species are the--

Common Dormouse-Phalanger-- Dromicia nana, Desm.

Lesser D.-Ph.-- D. lepida, Thomas.

Long-tailed D.-Ph.-- D. caudata, M. Edw.

Western D.-Ph.-- D. concinna, Gould.

One genus, with only one species, the Pentailed-Phalanger, Distaechurus pennatus, Peters, is confined to New Guinea.

1832. J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' p. 28:

"The opossum-mouse is about the size of our largest barn-mouse."

1894. R. Lydekker, `Marsupialia,' p. 118:

"Resembling a common mouse in size, and hence known to the colonists as the flying-mouse or opossum-mouse, this little animal is one of the most elegant of the Australian marsupials."

Opossum-Tree, n. a timber-tree, Quintinia sieberi, De C., N.O. Saxifrageae.

Orange, n. i.q. Native Lime, Citrus australis. See Lime.

Orange, Mock, n. i.q. Native Laurel.

See Laurel.

Orange, Native, n. name given to two Australian trees. (1) Capparis mitch.e.l.li, Lindl., N.O. Capparideae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 12:

"`Small Native Pomegranate,' `Native Orange.' The fruit is from one to two inches in diameter, and the pulp, which has an agreeable perfume, is eaten by the natives."

(2) Citriobatus pauciflorus, A. Cunn., N.O. Pittosporeae.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 16:

"`Native Orange,' `Orange Thorn.' The fruit is an orange berry with a leathery skin, about one inch and a half in diameter. It is eaten by the aboriginals."

Orange, Wild, n. i.q. Wild Lemon.

See under Lemon.

Orange-Gum, n. See Gum.

Orange-spotted Lizard (of New Zealand), Naultinus elegans, Gray.

Orange-Thorn, n. See Orange, Native(2).

Orange-Tree, n. The New Zealand Orange-Tree is a name given to the Tarata (q.v.), from the aromatic odour of its leaves when crushed.

Organ-Bird, or Organ-Magpie, n.

other names for one of the Magpies (q.v.).

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. ii. pl. 48:

"Gymnorrhina organic.u.m, Gould, Tasmanian crow-shrike; Organ-Bird and White-Magpie of the Colonists. Resembling the sounds of a hand-organ out of tune."

1848. T. L. Mitch.e.l.l, `Tropical Australia,' p. 176:

"The burita, or Gymnorrhina, the organ-magpie, was here represented by a much smaller bird."

Ornithorhynchus, n. i.q. Platypus (q.v.).

Orthonyx, n. a scientific name of a remarkable Australian genus of pa.s.serine birds, the spine-tails. It long remained of uncertain position ... and finally it was made the type of a family, Orthonycidae. In the type species, O. spinacauda ... the shafts of the tail-feathers are prolonged beyond the legs. (`Century.') Thename is from the Greek 'orthos, straight, and 'onux, a claw. See Log-Runner and Pheasant's Mother.

Osprey, n. another name for the Fish-Hawk (q.v.).

Ounce, n. used as adj. Yielding an ounce of gold to a certain measure of dirt, as a dish-full, a cradle-full, a tub-full, etc. Also used to signify the number of ounces per ton that quartz will produce, as "ounce-stuff,"

"three-ounce stuff," etc.

Out-run, n. a sheep-run at a distance from the Head-station (q.v.).

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. vi. p. 47 (1890):

"They'd come off a very far out-run, where they'd been, as one might say, neglected."

Out-station, n. a sheep or cattle station away from the Head-station (q.v.).