1885. H. H.Hayter, `Carboona,' p. 35:
"A blanket made of the fur-covered skins of the native cat."
1894. `The Argus,' June 23, p. 11, col. 4:
"The voices of most of our night animals are guttural and unpleasing. The 'possum has a throaty half-stifled squeak, the native cat a deep chest-note ending with a hiss and easily imitated." [See <i>Skirr</i>.]
<hw>Catholic Frog</hw>, <i>n</i>. name applied to a frog living in the inland parts of New South Wales, <i>Notaden bennettii</i>, Guenth., which tides over times of drought in burrows, and feeds on ants. Called also "Holy Cross Toad." The names are given in consequence of a large cross-shaped blackish marking on the back.
1801. J. J. Fletcher, `Proceedings of the Linnaean Society, New South Wales,' vol. vi. (2nd series), p. 265:
"<i>Notaden bennettii</i>, the Catholic frog, or as I have heard it called the Holy Cross Toad, I first noticed in January 1885, after a heavy fall of rain lasting ten days, off and on, and succeeding a severe drought."
<hw>Cat's Eyes</hw>, <i>n</i>. Not the true <i>Cat's-eye</i>, but the name given in Australia to the opercula of <i>Turbo smaragdus</i>, Martyn, a marine mollusc. The operculum is the horny or shelly lid which closes the aperture of most spiral shell fish.
<hw>Cat's-head Fern</hw>, <i>n. Aspidium aculeatum</i>, Sw.:
1880. Mrs. Meredith, `Tasmanian Friends and Foes,' p. 220:
"The cat's-head fern; though why that name was given to it I have not the remotest idea. … It is full of beauty—the pinnules so exquisitely formed and indented, and gemmed beneath with absolute constellations of <i>Spori Polystichum vestitum</i>."
<hw>Catspaw</hw>, <i>n</i>. a Tasmanian plant, <i>Trichinium spathulatum</i>, Poir., <i>N.O. Amarantaceae</i>.
<hw>Cat's Tail</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Wonga</i>.
<hw>Cattle-bush</hw>, <i>n</i>. a tree, <i>Atalaya hemiglauca</i>, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Sapindacea</i>. It is found in South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, and is sometimes called <i>Whitewood</i>.
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 117:
"Cattle-bush … The leaves of this tree are eaten by stock, the tree being frequently felled for their use during seasons of drought."
<hw>Cattle-duffer</hw>, <i>n</i>. a man who steals cattle (usually by altering their brands). See also <i>Duffer</i>.
1886. `Melbourne Punch,' July 15, Cartoon Verses:
"Cattle-duffers on a jury may be honest men enough,
But they're bound to visit lightly sins in those
who cattle duff."
<hw>Cattle-racket</hw>, <i>n</i>. Explained in quotation.
1852. `Settlers and Convicts; or Recollections of Sixteen Years' Labour in the Australian Backwoods,' p. 294:
"A Cattle-racket. The term at the head of this chapter was originally applied in New South Wales to the agitation of society which took place when some wholesale system of plunder in cattle was brought to light. It is now commonly applied to any circumstance of this sort, whether greater or less, and whether springing from a felonious intent or accidental."
<hw>Caustic-Creeper</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given to <i>Euphorbia drummondii</i>, Boiss., <i>N.O. Euphorbiaceae</i>.
1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 127:
"Called `caustic-creeper' in Queensland. Called `milk-plant' and `pox-plant' about Bourke. This weed is unquestionably poisonous to sheep, and has recently (Oct. 1887) been reported as having been fatal to a flock near Bourke, New South Wales. … When eaten by sheep in the early morning, before the heat of the sun has dried it up, it is almost certain to be fatal. Its effect on sheep is curious. The head swells to an enormous extent, becoming so heavy that the animal cannot support it, and therefore drags it along the ground; the ears suppurate. (Bailey and Gordon.)"
<hw>Caustic-Plant</hw>, or <hw>Caustic-Vine</hw>, <i>n</i>. <i>Sarcostemma australis</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Asclepiadea</i>. Cattle and sheep are poisoned by eating it.
<hw>Cavally</hw>, <i>n</i>. the original form of the Australian fish-name <i>Trevally</i> (q.v.). The form <i>Cavally</i> is used to Europe, but is almost extinct in Australia; the form <i>Trevally</i> is confined to Australia.
<hw>Cedar</hw>,</hw> n</i>. The true Cedar is a Conifer (<i>N.O. Coniferae</i>) of the genus <i>Cedrus</i>, but the name is given locally to many other trees resembling it in appearance, or in the colour or scent of their wood. The New Zealand <i>Cedar</i> is the nearest approach to the true <i>Cedar</i>, and none of the so-called Australian <i>Cedars</i> are of the order <i>Coniferae</i>. The following are the trees to which the name is applied in Australia:—
Bastard Pencil Cedar—
<i>Dysoxylon rfum</i>, Benth., <i>N.O. Meliaceae</i>.
Brown C.—
<i>Ehretia acuminata</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Asperifoliae</i>.
Ordinary or Red C.— <i>Cedrela australis</i>, F. v. M. <i>Cedrela toona</i>, R. Br., <i>N.O. Meliaceae</i>. [<i>C. toona</i> is the "Toon" tree of India: its timber is known in the English market as Moulmein Cedar; but the Baron von Mueller doubts the identity of the Australian Cedar with the "Toon" tree; hence his name <i>australis</i>.]
Pencil C.—
<i>Dysoxylon Fraserianum</i>, Benth., <i>N.O. Meliaceae</i>.
Scrub White C.— <i>Pentaceras australis</i>, Hook. and Don.,
<i>N.O. Rutacea</i>.
White C.—
<i>Melia composita</i>, Willd., <i>N.O. Meliaceae</i>.
Yellow C.—
<i>Rhus rhodanthema</i>, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Anacardiacae</i>.
In Tasmania, three species of the genus <i>Arthrotaxis</i> are
called Cedars or Pencil Cedars; namely, <i>A. cupressoides</i>,
Don., known as the King William Pine; <i>A. laxifolza</i>,
Hook., the Mountain Pine; and <i>A. selaginoides</i>, Don., the
Red Pine. All these are peculiar to the island.
In New Zealand, the name of Cedar is applied to <i>Libocedrus bidwillii</i>, Hook., <i>N.O. Coniferae</i>; Maori name, <i>Pahautea</i>.
1838. T. L. Mitchell, `Three Expeditions, vol. i. p. 328:
"The cedar of the colony (<i>Cedrela toona</i>, R. Br.), which is to be found only in some rocky gullies of the coast range."
1883. F. M. Bailey, `Synopsis of Queensland Flora,' p. 63:
"Besides being valuable as a timber-producing tree, this red cedar has many medicinal properties. The bark is spoken of as a powerful astringent, and, though not bitter, said to be a good substitute for Peruvian bark in the cure of remitting and intermitting fevers."
1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,' p. 123:
"Pahautea, Cedar. A handsome conical tree sixty to eighty feet high, two to three feet in diameter.