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

<hw>Paper-fish</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Tasmanian name. See <i>Bastard Trumpeter</i> and <i>Morwong</i>.

1883. `Royal Commission on Fisheries of Tasmania,' p. xxxvi:

"The young [of the bastard trumpeter] are always coloured, more or less, like the red, and are known by some as `paper-fish.' The mature form of the silver bastard is alone caught. This is conclusive as favouring the opinion that the silver is simply the mature form of the red."

<hw>Paradise, Bird of</hw>, <i>n</i>. English bird-name, originally applied in Australia to the <i>Lyre-bird</i> (q.v.), now given to <i>Manucoda gouldii</i>, Gray. Called also the <i>Manucode</i> (q.v.).

1802. D. Collins, `Account of New South Wales,' vol. ii. p. 300:

"By him [Wilson, a convict] the first bird of paradise ever seen in this country had been shot." [This was the <i>Lyre-bird</i>.]

<hw>Paradise-Duck</hw>, <i>n</i>. bird-name applied to the New Zealand duck, <i>Casarca variegata</i>, Gmel. See <i>Duck</i> quotation, 1889, Parker.

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' c. 1. p. 57:

"These (wild ducks of different sorts) are principally the black, the grey, the blue-winged, and the paradise-duck, or `pu tangi tangi,' as it is called by the natives. The last is nearly as large as a goose, and of beautiful plumage."

<hw>Paradoxus</hw>, <i>n</i>. a shortened form of the former scientific name of the Platypus, <i>Paradoxus ornithorrhynchus</i>. Sometimes further abbreviated to <i>Paradox</i>. The word is from the Greek <i>paradoxos</i>, `Contrary to opinion, strange, incredible.' (`L. & S.')