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

"After shooting one or two beautiful nankeen birds."

1872. C. H. Eden, `My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 121:

"The nankeen crane (<i>Nycticorax caledonicus</i>), a very handsome bright nankeen-coloured bird with three long white feathers at the back of the neck, very good eating."

<hw>Nankeen Gum</hw>. See <i>Gum</i>.

<hw>Nankeen Hawk</hw>, <i>n</i>. an Australian bird, <i>Tinnunculus cenchroides</i>, Vig. and Hors., which is otherwise called <i>Kestrel</i> (q.v.).

1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of the Linnaean Society,' vol. xv. p. 184:

"`This bird,' as we are informed by Mr. Caley, `is called
Nankeen Hawk by the settlers. It is a migratory species.'"

<hw>Nannygai</hw>, <i>n</i>. aboriginal name for an Australian fish, <i>Beryx affinis</i>, Gunth.

1882. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `Fish of New South Wales,' p. 52:

"Amongst the early colonists it used also to be called `mother nan a di,' probably a corruption of the native name, mura ngin a gai."