1868. J. Bonwick, `John Batman, the Founder of Victoria,' p. 20:
"Taking with him, therefore, on board the Port Phillip, presents of spears, wommeras, boomerangs, and stone tomahawks, he tried to get from the Williamstown waters."
1889. P. Beveridge, `Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina,' p. 48:
"Spears all ready shipped, that is, having the hook of the Womerar (throwing-stick) placed in the small cavity made for that purpose in the end of the spear, with both raised in readiness for launching at the object."
1892. J. Fraser, `Aborigines of New South Wales,' p. 73:
"The `womara' is an instrument of wood, from twenty-four to thirty inches long, and a little thicker than a spear. Unlike the spear, it is not thrown at the enemy in battle, but remains always in the black man's hand . . . he ornaments it profusely, back and front. . . . The point is turned up, exactly like the point of a lady's crochet needle. . . . The spears have a dimpled hole worked in their butt end, which hole receives the point of the hook end of the `throw-stick.'"
<hw>Worm-Snake</hw>, <i>n</i>. See under <i>Snake</i>.
<hw>Wrasse</hw>, <i>n</i>. This English name for many fishes is given, in New Zealand, to <i>Labrichthys bothryocosmus</i>, Richards. Called also <i>Poddly, Spotty</i>, and <i>Kelp-fish</i>.
<hw>Wreck-fish</hw>, <i>n</i>. The Australian species is <i>Polyprion ceruleum</i>, family Percoidae. Guenther says that the European species has the habit of accompanying floating wood. Hence the name.
<hw>Wren</hw>, <i>n</i>. This common English bird-name is assigned in Australia to birds of several genera, viz.—