1894. Longmans' `Notes on Books' (May 31), p. 206:
"`On the Wallaby: a Book of Travel and Adventure.' `On the Wallaby' is an Australianism for `on the march,' and it is usually applied to persons tramping the bush in search of employment."
1894. Jennings Carmichael, in `Australasian,' Dec. 22, p. 1127, col. 5:
"A `wallaby' Christmas, Jack, old man!—
Well, a worse fate might befall us!
The bush must do for our church to-day,
And birds be the bells to call us.
The breeze that comes from the shore beyond,
Thro' the old gum-branches swinging,
Will do for our solemn organ chords,
And the sound of children singing."
1896. H. Lawson, `When the World was Wide,' p. 134:
"Though joys of which the poet rhymes
Was not for Bill an' me
I think we had some good old times
Out on the Wallaby."
<hw>Wallaroo</hw>, <i>n</i>. native name for a large species of Kangaroo, the mountain kangaroo, <i>Macropus robustus</i>, Gould. The black variety of Queensland and New South Wales is called locally the <i>Wallaroo</i>, the name <i>Euro</i> being given in South and Central Australia to the more rufous- coloured variety of the same species.
In the aboriginal language, the word <i>walla</i> meant `to jump,' and <i>walla-walla</i> `to jump quickly.'
1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.:
"The wallaroo, of a blackish colour, with coarse shaggy fur, inhabiting the hills."