1886. G. A. Keartland, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,' Part ii. Zoology, <i>Aves</i>, p. 79:
"<i>Amytis Striata</i>, Gould. Striated Wren. . . . They are found almost throughout Central Australia wherever the porcupine grass abounds, so much so, that they are generally known as the `Porcupine bird.'"
<hw>Porcupine-Fish</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given to several species of the genus <i>Diodon</i>, family <i>Gymnodontes</i>, poisonous fishes; also to <i>Dicotylichthys punctulatus</i>, Kaup., an allied fish 1n which the spines are not erectile as in <i>Diodon</i>, but are stiff and immovable. <i>Chilomycterus jaculiferus</i>, Cuv., another species, has also stiff spines, and <i>Atopomycterus nycthemerus</i>, Cuv., has erectile spines. See <i>Toad-fish</i> and <i>Globe-fish</i>.
<hw>Porcupine-Grass</hw>, <i>n</i>. the name given to certain species of <i>Triodia</i>, of which the more important are <i>T. mitchelli</i>, Benth., <i>T. pungens</i>, R. Br., and <i>T. irritans</i>, R. Br. This grass forms rounded tussocks, growing especially on the sand-hills of the desert parts of Australia, which may reach the size of nine or ten feet in diameter. The leaves when dry form stiff, sharp-pointed structures, which radiate in all directions, like knitting-needles stuck in a huge pincushion. In the writings of the early Australian explorers it is usually, but erroneously, called <i>Spinifex</i> (q.v.). The aborigines collect the resinous material on the leaves of <i>T. pungens</i>, and use it for various purposes, such as that of attaching pieces of flint to the ends of their yam-sticks and spear-throwers.
1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery and Exploration of Australia,' vol. i. p. 284:
"It [<i>Triodia</i>] grows in tufts like large beehives, or piles of thrift grass, and the leaves project out rigidly in all directions, just like <i>Chevaux-de-frise</i>. Merely brushing by will cause the points to strike into the limbs, and a very short walk in such country soon covers the legs with blood. . . . Unfortunately two or three species of it extend throughout the whole continent, and form a part of the descriptions in the journal of every explorer."
1880 (before). P. J. Holdsworth, `Station-hunting on the Warrego,' quoted in `Australian Ballads and Rhymes' (ed. Sladen), p. 115:
"Throughout that night,
Cool dews came sallying on that rain-starved land,
And drenched the thick rough tufts of bristly grass,
Which, stemmed like quills (and thence termed porcupine),
Thrust hardily their shoots amid the flints
And sharp-edged stones."
1889. E. Giles, `Australia Twice Traversed,' vol. i. p. 76:
"No porcupine, but real green grass made up a really pretty picture, to the explorer at least."