1890. F. McCoy, `Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria,' Dec. 15, pl. 150:
"I suggest the trivial name of Southern Rock Lobster for this species, which abounds in Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand, as well as the Cape of Good Hope . . . does not appear to have been noticed as far north as Sydney."
The name <i>Craw-fish</i> is merely an ancient variant of <i>Cray-fish</i>, though it is said by Gasc, in his French Dictionary, that the term was invented by the London fishmongers to distinguish the small <i>Spiny Lobster</i>, which has no claws, from the common <i>Lobster</i>, which has claws. The term <i>Lobster</i>, in Australia, is often applied to the <i>Sydney Cray-fish</i> (see 7, above).
<hw>Creadion</hw>, <i>n</i>. scientific name given by Vieillot in 1816 to a genus of birds peculiar to New Zealand, from Greek <i>kreadion</i>, a morsel of flesh, dim. of <i>kreas</i>, flesh. Buller says, "from the angle of the mouth on each side there hangs a fleshy wattle, or caruncle, shaped like a cucumber seed and of a changeable bright yellow colour." ('Birds of New Zealand,' 1886, vol. i. p. 18.) The <i>Jack-bird</i> (q.v.) and <i>Saddle-back</i> (q.v.) are the two species.
1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 404:
"Family <i>Sturnidae</i>—Tieki (<i>Creadion Carunculatus</i>). This is a beautiful black bird with a chestnut band across the back and wings; it has also a fleshy lappet on either side of the head. The <i>tieki</i> is considered a bird of omen: if one flies on the right side it is a good sign; if on the left, a bad one."
<hw>Cream of Tartar tree</hw>, <i>n</i>. i.q. <i>Baobab</i> (q.v.).
<hw>Creek</hw>, <i>n</i>. a small river, a brook, a branch of a river. "An application of the word entirely unknown in Great Britain." (`O.E.D.') The `Standard Dictionary' gives, as a use in the United States, "a tidal or valley stream, between a brook and a river in size." In Australia, the name brook is not used. Often pronounced crick, as in the United States.
Dr. J. A.H. Murray kindly sends the following note:—"Creek goes back to the early days of exploration. Men sailing up the Mississippi or other navigable river saw the mouths of tributary streams, but could not tell with out investigation whether they were confluences or mere inlets, creeks. They called them creeks, but many of them turned out to be running streams, many miles long—tributary rivers or rivulets. The name <i>creek</i> stuck to them, however, and thus became synonymous with tributary stream, brook."
1793. Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 516: