Austral English Part 139

1873. `Appendix to Journal of House of Representatives,'

vol. iii. G. 1, p. 5:

"If it be a Maori who is taken by me, he will also be made into a kinaki for my cabbage."

1878. R. C. Barstow, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,' vol. XI. art. iv. p. 71:

"Fifty years ago it would have been a poor hapu that could not afford a slave or two as a kinaki, or relish, on such an occasion."

King-fish, n. In New Zealand a sea-fish, Seriola lalandii (Maori, Haku), sometimes called the Yellow-tail; in Victoria, Sciaena antarctica, Castln. Called Jew-fish (q.v.) in New South Wales.

Tenison Woods says the King-fish of Port Jackson must not be confounded with the King-fish of Victoria or the King-fish of Tasmania (Thyrsites micropus, McCoy). The Port Jackson King-fish belongs to a genus called "Yellow-tails" in Europe.

This is Seriola lalandii, Cuv. and Val. Seriola belongs to the family Carangidae, or Horse- Mackerels. Thyrsites belongs to the family Trichiuridae. The "Barracouta" of Australasia is another species of Thyrsites, and the "Frost-fish"

belongs to the same family. The Kingfish of America is a different fish; the name is also applied to other fishes in Europe.

1876. P. Thomson, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,' vol. XI. art. lii. p. 381:

"The king-fish, Seriola Lalandii, put in no appearance this year."

1883. `Royal Commission on Fisheries of Tasmania,' p. 11:

"Thyrsites Lalandii, the king-fish of Tasmania: migratory. Appear in immense numbers at certain seasons (December to June) in pursuit of the horse-mackerel. Caught with a swivelled barbless hook at night. Voracious in the extreme--individuals frequently attacking each other, and also the allied species, the barracouta."

Kingfisher, n. common English bird-name. Gould mentions thirteen species in Australia. The Australian species are--

Blue Kingfisher-- Halcyon azurea, Lath.

Fawn-breasted K.-- Dacelo cervina, Gould.

Forest K.-- Halcyon macleayi, Jard. and Selb.

Laughing jackass (q.v.)-- Dacelo gigas, Bodd.

Leach's K.-- D. leachii, Vig. and Hors.

Little K.-- Halcyon pusilla, Temm.

Mangrove K.-- H. sordidus, Gould.

Purple K.-- H. pulchra, Gould.

Red-backed K.-- H. pyrropygius, Gould.

Sacred K.-- H. sanctus, Vig. and Hors.

White-tailed K.-- Tanysiptera sylvia, Gould.

Yellow-billed K.-- Syma flavirostris, Gould.

There is a Kingfisher in New Zealand (Halcyon vagans, Less.) considered identical by many with H. sanctus of Australia, but concluded by Butler to be a distinct species.

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i.

p. 121:

[A full description.]

King of the Herrings, n. another name for the Elephant-fish (q.v.).

1890. A. H. S. Lucas, `Handbook of the Australasian Association' (Melbourne), p. 72:

"The King of the Herrings, Callorhynchus antarcticus, is fairly common with us."

King-Parrot. See Parrot.

1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery and Exploration of Australia,' vol. i. p. 317:

This creek [King Parrot Creek] was named after a beautiful parrot which was then seen for the first time. It is a bird of magnificent plumage, with crimson feathers on the body, and blue wings, both of gorgeous hue, and no other colour except a little black. The name, King Parrot, is variously applied to several birds in different arts of Australia; the one described is common."

King William Pine, n. a Tasmanian tree.

See Cedar.

Kino, n. a drug; the dried juice, of astringent character, obtained from incisions in the bark of various trees. In Australia it is got from certain Eucalypts, e.g. E. resinifera, Smith, and E. corymbosa, Smith. "It is used in England under the name of Red-gum in astringent lozenges for sore throat." (`Century.') See Red Gum. The drug is Australian, but the word, according to Littre, is "Mot des Indes orientales."

Kipper, n. a youth who has been initiated, i.e. been through the Bora (q.v.). It is a Queensland word. In Kabi, Queensland, the form is kivar: on the Brisbane River, it is kippa, whereas in the Kamilaroi of New South Wales the word is kubura.

1853. H. Berkeley Jones, `Adventures in Australia in 1852 and 1853,' p. 126:

"Around us sat `Kippers,' i.e. `hobbledehoy blacks.'"

1885. R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 24:

"The young men receive the rank of warriors, and are henceforth called kippers."

Kit, n. a flexible Maori basket; not the English kit used by soldiers, but the Maori word kete, a basket.

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 199:

"Kete (Maori), pa-kete (Anglo-Maori), basket, kit (Eng.)."

1856. E. B. Fitton, `New Zealand,' p. 68:

"The natives generally bring their produce to market in neatly made baskets, plaited from flax and known by the name of `Maori kits.'"

1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand, the Britain of the South,'

vol. i. p. 180:

"The kit is a large plaited green-flax basket."

1877. An Old Colonist, `Colonial Experiences,' p. 31:

"Potatoes were procurable from the Maoris in flax kits, at from one to five shillings the kit."