Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

Large-billed F.—
<i>G. magnirostris</i>, Gould.

Southern F.—
<i>G. culicivora</i>, Gould.

White-throated F.—
<i>G. albogularis</i>, Gould.

Yellow-breasted F.—
<i>G. flavida</i>, Ramsay.

1895. W. O. Legge, `Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science `(Brisbane), p. 447:

"[The habits and habitats of the genus as] applied to <i>Gerygone</i> suggested the term Fly-<i>eater</i>, as distinguished from Fly-<i>catcher</i>, for this aberrant and peculiarly Australasian form of small Fly-catchers, which not only capture their food somewhat after the manner of Fly-catchers, but also seek for it arboreally."

<hw>Flyer</hw>, <i>n.</i> a swift kangaroo.

1866. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' second series, p. 172:

"I may here state that the settlers designate the old kangaroos as `old men' and `old women,' the full-grown animals are named `flyers,' and are swifter than the British hare."

<hw>Flying-Fox</hw>, <i>n.</i> a gigantic Australian bat, <i>Pteropus poliocephalus</i>, Temm. It has a fetid odour and does great damage to fruits, and is especially abundant in New South Wales, though often met with in Victoria. Described, not named, in first extract.