"Rather smaller than the house-fly, it acts with such celerity that it has no sooner settled on the face or hands than it inflicts instantaneously a painful wound, which often bleeds subsequently. It is called by the colonists the kangaroo-fly; and though not very common, the author can testify that it is one of the most annoying pests of Australia."
<hw>Kangaroo-Grass</hw>, <i>n</i>. a name given to several species of grasses of the genera <i>Anthistiria</i> and <i>Andropogon</i>, chiefly from their height, but also because, when they are young and green in spring, the <i>Kangaroo</i> feeds on them. <i>Andropogon</i> is more like a rush or sedge, and is sometimes so high as to completely conceal horses. See <i>Grass</i>.
1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i. p. 209:
"Of native grasses we possess the oat-grass, rye-grass, fiorin, kangaroo-grass, and timothy,—blady grass growing in wet, flooded, alluvial spots, and wire-grass upon cold, wet, washed clays."
1838. `Report of Van Diemen's Land Company,' in J. Bischoff's `Van Diemen's Land' (1832), c. v. p. 119:
"The grasses were principally timothy, foxtail, and single kangaroo."
1845. T. L. Mitchell, `Tropical Australia, p. 88:
"A new species of <i>Anthistiria</i> occurred here, perfectly distinct from the kangaroo grass of the colony."
1848. W. Westgarth, `Australia Felix,' p. 131:
"The most conspicuous of the native <i>Gramineae</i> that so widely cover the surface of Australia Felix."