<hw>Poroporo</hw>, <i>n</i>. Maori name for the flowering shrub <i>Solanum aviculare</i>, Forst.; called in Australia, <i>Kangaroo Apple</i>. Corrupted into <i>Bullybul</i> (q.v.). /See, rather, Bull-a-bull/
1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand, the Britain of the South, p. 136:
"The poroporo, the nicest or least nasty of the wild fruits, is a sodden strawberry flavoured with apple-peel; but if rashly tasted an hour before it is ripe, the poroporo is an alum pill flavoured with strychnine."
1880. W. Colenso, `Transactions New Zealand Institute,' vol. xiii. art. i. p. 32:
"The large berry of the poro-poro (<i>Solanum aviculare</i>) was also eaten; it is about the size of a small plum, and when ripe it is not unpleasant eating, before it is ripe it is very acrid. This fruit was commonly used by the early colonists in the neighbourhood of Wellington in making jam."
<hw>Porphyrio</hw>, <i>n</i>. the Sultana-bird, or Sultana. The bird exists elsewhere. In Australia it is generally called the <i>Swamp-Hen</i> (q.v.).
1875. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 213:
"The crimson-billed porphyrio, that jerking struts
Among the cool thick rushes."
1890. `Victorian Statutes-the Game Act' (Third Schedule):
[Close Season.] ". . . Land-rail, all other members of the
Rail family, Porphyrio, Coots, &c. From the First day of
August to the Twentieth day of December following."