Austral English Part 62

In New Zealand, the name is applied to Eudynamis taitensis (sc. of Tahiti) Sparm., the Long-tailed Cuckoo; and to Chrysococcyx lucidus, Gmel., the s.h.i.+ning Cuckoo.

The name Cuckoo has sometimes been applied to the Mopoke (q.v.) and to the b.o.o.book (q.v.). See also Pheasant-cuckoo.

1855. G. W. Rusden, `Moyarra,' Notes, p. 30:

"The Australian cuckoo is a nightjar, and is heard only by night."

1868. W. Carleton, `Australian Nights,' p. 19:

"The Austral cuckoo spoke His melancholy note, `Mopoke.'"

1889. Prof. Parker, `Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,'

p. 118:

"There are two species of the Longtailed Cuckoo (Eudynamis taitensis), and the beautiful Bronze or s.h.i.+ning Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus). They are both migratory birds.

The Long-tailed Cuckoo spends its winter in some of the Pacific islands, the s.h.i.+ning Cuckoo in Australia."

Cuckoo-shrike, n. This combination of two common English bird-names is a.s.signed in Australia to the following--

Barred Cuckoo-shrike Graucalus lineatus, Swains.

Black-faced C.-- G. melanops, Lath.

Ground C.-- Pteropodocys phasianella, Gould.

Little C.-- Graucalus mentalis, Vig. and Hors.

Small-billed C.-- G. parvirostris, Gould.

White-bellied C.-- G. hyperleucus, Gould.

Cuc.u.mber-fish, n. i.q. Grayling (q.v.).

Cuc.u.mber-Mullet, n. i.q. Grayling (q.v.).

Cultivation paddock, n. a field that has been tilled and not kept for gra.s.s.

1853. Chas. St. Julian and Ed. K. Silvester, `The Productions, Industry, and Resources of New South Wales,' p. 170:

"Few stations of any magnitude are without their `cultivation paddocks,' where grain and vegetables are raised ..."

1860. A Lady, `My Experiences in Australia,' p. 173:

"Besides this large horse paddock, there was a s.p.a.ce cleared of trees, some twenty to thirty acres in extent, on the banks of the creek, known as the `Cultivation Paddock,' where in former days my husband had grown a sufficient supply of wheat for home consumption."

1893. `The Argus,' June 17, p. 13, col. 4:

"How any man could have been such an idiot as to attempt to make a cultivation paddock on a bed of clay pa.s.sed all my knowledge.'

Curlew, n. common English bird-name.

The Australian species is Numenius cyanopus, Vieill.

The name, however, is more generally applied to AEdicnemus grallarius, Lath.

1862. H. C. Kendall, `Poems,' p. 43:

"They rend the air like cries of despair, The screams of the wild curlew."

1872. C. H. Eden, `My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 18:

"Truly the most depressing cry I ever heard is that of the curlew, which you take no notice of in course of time; but which to us, wet, weary, hungry, and strange, sounded most eerie."

1890. `Victorian Statutes, Game Act, Third Schedule':

"Southern Stone Plover or Curlew."

1894. `The Argus,' June 23, p. 11, col. 4:

"The calling of the stone plover. It might as well be a curlew at once, for it will always be a curlew to country people. Its first call, with the pause between, sounds like `Curlew'--that is, if you really want it to sound so, though the blacks get much nearer the real note with `Koo-loo,' the first syllable sharp, the second long drawn out."

1896. Dr. Holden, of Hobart, `Private letter,' Jan.:

"There is a curlew in Australia, closely resembling the English bird, and it calls as that did over the Locksley Hall sand-dunes; but Australians are given to calling AEdicnemus grallarius Latham (our Stone Plover), the `curlew,' which is a misnomer. This also drearily wails, and after dark."

Currajong or Currijong, i.q. Kurrajong (q.v.).

Currant, Native, n. The name is given to various shrubs and trees of the genus Coprosma, especially Coprosma billardieri, Hook., N.O. Rubiare(e; also to Leucopogon richei, Lab., N.O. Epacrideae, various species of Leptomeria, N.O. Santalaceae, and Myoporum serratum, R. Br., N.O. Myoporineae. The names used for M. serratum, chiefly in South Australia, are Blueberry Tree, Native Juniper, Native Myrtle, Palberry, and c.o.c.katoo Bush.

See also Native Plum.

1827. P. Cunningham, `Two Years in New South Wales,' vol. i.

p. 220:

"Our native currants are strongly acidulous, like the cranberry, and make an excellent preserve when mixed with the raspberry."

1834. Ross, `Van Diemen's Land Annual,' p. 133:

"Leucopogon lanceolatum. A large bush with numerous harsh leaves, growing along the sea sh.o.r.e, with some other smaller inland shrubs of the same tribe, produces very small white berries of a sweetish and rather herby flavour. These are promiscuously called white or native currants in the colony."

["The insignificant and barely edible berries of this shrub are said to have saved the life of the French botanist Riche, who was lost in the bush on the South Australian coast for three days, at the close of the last century." (Maiden.) The plant is now called L. Richei.]

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 19:

"Native Currant... . This plant bears a small round drupe, about the size of a small pea. Mr. Backhouse states that (over half a century ago) when British fruits were scarce, it was made into puddings by some of the settlers of Tasmania, but the size and number of the seeds were objectionable."

Currant, Plain, n. See Plain Currant.

Currency, n. (1) Name given especially to early paper-money in the Colonies, issued by private traders and of various values, and in general to the various coins of foreign countries, which were current and in circulation. Barrington, in his `History of New South Wales `(1802), gives a table of such specie.

1824. Edward Curr, `Account of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land,'