Austral English Part 42

"A hint dropped in this town set the bush telegraphs riding in all directions."

Bushwoman, n. See quotation.

1892. `The Australasian,' April 9, p. 707, col. 1:

"But who has championed the cause of the woman of the bush-- or, would it be more correct to say bushwoman, as well as bushman?--and allowed her also a claim to participate in the founding of a nation?"

Bush-wren, n. See Wren.

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 108:

[A full description.]

Bushed, adj., quasi past participle, lost in the bush; then, lost or at a loss.

1661. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 115:

"I left my seat to reach a shelter, which was so many miles off, that I narrowly escaped being `bushed.'"

1865. W. Howitt, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. i. p. 283:

"The poor youth, new to the wilds, had, in the expressive phrase of the colonials, got bushed, that is, utterly bewildered, and thus lost all idea of the direction that he ought to pursue."

1885. R. M. Praed, `Australian Life,' p. 29:

"I get quite bushed in these streets."

1896. `The Argus,' Jan. 1, p. 4, col. 9:

"The Ministry did not assume its duty of leading the House, and Mr. Higgins graphically described the position of affairs by stating that the House was `bushed;' while Mr. Shiels compared the situation to a rudderless ship drifting hither and thither."

Bustard, n. "There are about twenty species, mostly of Africa, several of India, one of Australia, and three properly European." (`Century.') The Australian variety is Eupodotis australis, Gray, called also Wild Turkey, Native Turkey, and Plain Turkey. See Turkey.

Buster, Southerly, n. The word is a corruption of `burster,' that which bursts. A sudden and violent squall from the south. The name, used first in Sydney, has been adopted also in other Australian cities. See Brickfielder.

1863. F. Fowler, in `Athenaeum,' Feb. 21, p. 264, col. 1:

"The cold wind or southerly buster which ... carries a thick cloud of dust ... across the city."

1878. `The Australian,' vol. i. p. 587:

"Southerly Busters by `Ironbark.'"

1886. F. Cowan, `Australia, a Charcoal Sketch':

"The Buster and Brickfielder: austral red-dust blizzard; and red-hot Simoom."

1889. Rev. J. H. Zillmann, `Australian Life,' p. 40:

"Generally these winds end in what is commonly called a `southerly buster.' This is preceded by a lull in the hot wind; then suddenly (as it has been put) it is as though a bladder of cool air were exploded, and the strong cool southerly air drives up with tremendous force. However pleasant the change of temperature may be it is no mere pastime to be caught in a `southerly buster,' but the drifting rain which always follows soon sets matters right, allays the dust, and then follows the calm fresh bracing wind which is the more delightful by contrast with the misery through which one has passed for three long dreary days and nights."

1893. `The Australasian,' Aug. 12, p. 302, col. 1:

"You should see him with Commodore Jack out in the teeth of the `hard glad weather,' when a southerly buster sweeps up the harbour."

1896. H. A.Hunt, in `Three Essays on Australian Weather'

(Sydney), p. 16:

An Essay on Southerly Bursters, ... with Four Photographs and Five Diagrams."

[Title of an essay which was awarded the prize of L 25 offered by the Hon. Ralph Abercrombie.]

Butcher, n. South Australian slang for a long drink of beer, so-called (it is said) because the men of a certain butchery in Adelaide used this refreshment regularly; cf. "porter" in England, after the drink of the old London porters.

Butcher-bird, n. The name is in use elsewhere, but in Australia it is applied to the genus Cracticus.

The varieties are--

The Butcher-bird-- Cracticus torquatus, Lath.; formerly C. destructor, Gould.

Black B.-- C. quoyi, Less.

Black-throated B.-- C. nigrigularis, Gould.

Grey B. (Derwent Jackass)-- C. cinereus, Gould (see Jackass).

Pied B.-- C. picatus, Gould.

Rufous B.-- C. rufescens, De Vis.

Silver-backed B.-- C. argenteus, Gould.

Spalding's B.-- C. spaldingi, Masters.

White-winged B.-- C. leucopterus, Cav.

The bird is sometimes called a Crow-shrike.

1827. Vigors and Horsfield, `Transactions of Linnaean Society,'

vol. xv. p. 213:

"Mr. Caley observes--Butcher-bird. This bird used frequently to come into some green wattle-trees near my house, and in wet weather was very noisy; from which circumstance it obtained the name of `Rain-bird.'"

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. ii. Pl. 52:

"Cracticus Destructor. Butcher Bird, name given by colonists of Swan River, a permanent resident in New South Wales and South Australia. I scarcely know of any Australian bird so generally dispersed."

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia,' p. 50:

"Close to the station one or two butcher-birds were piping their morning song, a strange little melody with not many notes, which no one who has heard it will ever forget."