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

1892. A. Sutherland, `Elementary Geography of British Colonies,' p. 274:

"Owls are also numerous, the Mopoke's note being a familiar sound in the midnight darkness of the forest."

<i>By transference to a man</i>.—

1845. R. Howitt, `Australia,' p. 233:

"`A more-pork kind of a fellow' is a man of cut-and-dry phrases, a person remarkable for nothing new in common conversation. This by some is thought very expressive, the more-pork being a kind of Australian owl, notorious for its wearying nightly iteration, `More pork, more pork'"

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Colonial Reformer,' c. xiii. p. 125:

"What a regular more-pork I was to be sure to go and run my neck agin' a roping-pole."

<hw>Morepork</hw>, <i>n</i>. (1) The Australian bird, or birds, described under <i>Mopoke</i> (q.v.).

(2) The New Zealand Owl, formerly <i>Athene novae-zelandiae</i>, Gray; now <i>Spiloglaux novae-zelandiae</i>, Kaup.

1849. W. T. Power, `Sketches in New Zealand,' p. 74: