Austral English Part 47

1888. D.Macdonald, `Gum Boughs,' p. 36:

"One of the most peculiar of birds' eggs found about the Murray is that of the locally-termed `cat-bird,' the sh.e.l.l of which is veined thickly with dark thin threads as though covered with a spider's web."

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals.' p. 96:

"The cat-bird (AEluraedus maculosus), which makes its appearance towards evening, and has a voice strikingly like the mewing of a cat."

1893. `The Argus,' March 25:

"Another quaint caller of the bush is the cat-bird, and its eggs are of exactly the colour of old ivory."

1896. G. A. Keartland, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,'

pt. ii. Zoology, p. 92:

"Their habit of mewing like a cat has gained for them the local cognomen of cat-birds."

Cat-fish, n. The name is applied in the Old World to various fishes of the family Siluridae, and also to the Wolf-fish of Europe and North America. It arises from the resemblance of the teeth in some cases or the projecting "whiskers" in others, to those of a cat. In Victoria and New South Wales it is a fresh-water fish, Copidoglanis tanda.n.u.s, Mitch.e.l.l, brought abundantly to Melbourne by railway. It inhabits the rivers of the Murray system, but not of the centre of the continent. Called also Eel-fish and Tandan (q.v.). In Sydney the same name is applied also to Cnidoglanis megastoma, Rich., and in New Zealand Kathetostoma monopterygium.

Cnidoglanis and Cnidoglanis are Siluroids, and Kathetostoma is a"stargazer," i.e. a fish having eyes on the upper surface of the head, belonging to the family Trachinidsae.

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

p. 207:

"The Cat-fish, which I have frequently caught in the McLeay, is a large and very ugly animal. Its head is provided with several large tentacatae, and it has altogether a disagreeable appearance. I have eat its flesh, but did not like it."

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 213 [Footnote]:

"Mr. Frank Buckland ... writing of a species of rock-fish, says--`I found that it had a beautiful contrivance in the conformation of its mouth. It has the power of prolongating both its jaws to nearly the extent of half-an-inch from their natural position. This is done by a most beautiful bit of mechanism, somewhat on the principle of what are called `lazy tongs.' The cat-fish possesses a like feature, but on a much larger scale, the front part of the mouth being capable of being protruded between two and three inches when seizing prey.'"

Cat, Native, n. a small carnivorous marsupial, of the genus Dasyurus. The so-called native cat is not a cat at all, but a marsupial which resembles a very large rat or weasel, with rather a bushy tail. It is fawn-coloured or mouse-coloured, or black and covered with little white spots; a very pretty little animal. It only appears at night, when it climbs fences and trees and forms sport for moonlight shooting.

Its skin is made into fancy rugs and cloaks or mantles.

The animal is more correctly called a Dasyure (q.v.).

The species are--

Black-tailed Native Cat Dasyurus geoffroyi, Gould.

Common N.C. (called also Tiger Cat, q.v.)-- D. viverrimus, Shaw.

North Australian N.C.-- D. hallucatus, Gould.

Papuan N.C.-- D. albopienetatus, Schl.

Slender N.C.-- D. gracilis, Ramsay.

Spotted-tailed N.C. (called also Tiger Cat)-- D. maculatus, Kerr.

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 67:

"The native cat is similar [to the Tiger Cat; q.v.] but smaller, and its for is an ashy-grey with white spots.

We have seen two or three skins quite black, spotted with white, but these are very rare."

1885. H. H.Hayter, `Carboona,' p. 35:

"A blanket made of the fur-covered skins of the native cat."

1894. `The Argus,' June 23, p. 11, col. 4:

"The voices of most of our night animals are guttural and unpleasing. The 'possum has a throaty half-stifled squeak, the native cat a deep chest-note ending with a hiss and easily imitated." [See Skirr.]

Catholic Frog, n. name applied to a frog living in the inland parts of New South Wales, Notaden bennettii, Guenth., which tides over times of drought in burrows, and feeds on ants. Called also "Holy Cross Toad."

The names are given in consequence of a large cross-shaped blackish marking on the back.

1801. J. J. Fletcher, `Proceedings of the Linnaean Society, New South Wales,' vol. vi. (2nd series), p. 265:

"Notaden bennettii, the Catholic frog, or as I have heard it called the Holy Cross Toad, I first noticed in January 1885, after a heavy fall of rain lasting ten days, off and on, and succeeding a severe drought."

Cat's Eyes, n. Not the true Cat's-eye, but the name given in Australia to the opercula of Turbo smaragdus, Martyn, a marine mollusc. The operculum is the h.o.r.n.y or sh.e.l.ly lid which closes the aperture of most spiral sh.e.l.l fish.

Cat's-head Fern, n. Aspidium aculeatum, Sw.:

1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 220:

"The cat's-head fern; though why that name was given to it I have not the remotest idea... . It is full of beauty--the pinnules so exquisitely formed and indented, and gemmed beneath with absolute constellations of Spori Polystichum vest.i.tum."

Catspaw, n. a Tasmanian plant, Trichinium spathulatum, Poir., N.O. Amarantaceae.

Cat's Tail, n. See Wonga.

Cattle-bush, n. a tree, Atalaya hemiglauca, F. v. M., N.O. Sapindacea.

It is found in South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, and is sometimes called Whitewood.

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 117:

"Cattle-bush ... The leaves of this tree are eaten by stock, the tree being frequently felled for their use during seasons of drought."

Cattle-duffer, n. a man who steals cattle (usually by altering their brands). See also Duffer.

1886. `Melbourne Punch,' July 15, Cartoon Verses:

"Cattle-duffers on a jury may be honest men enough, But they're bound to visit lightly sins in those who cattle duff."

Cattle-racket, n. Explained in quotation.

1852. `Settlers and Convicts; or Recollections of Sixteen Years' Labour in the Australian Backwoods,' p. 294:

"A Cattle-racket. The term at the head of this chapter was originally applied in New South Wales to the agitation of society which took place when some wholesale system of plunder in cattle was brought to light. It is now commonly applied to any circ.u.mstance of this sort, whether greater or less, and whether springing from a felonious intent or accidental."

Caustic-Creeper, n. name given to Euphorbia drummondii, Boiss., N.O. Euphorbiaceae.