i. p. 95:
"Sitting on the branch of a tree, as a pro tempore pulpit, he shakes his head, bending to one side and then to another, as if he remarked to this one and to that one; and once and again, with pent-up vehemence, contracting his muscles and drawing himself together, his voice waxes loud, in a manner to awaken sleepers to their senses."
1890. W. Colenso, `Bush Notes," `Transactions of the New Zealand Inst.i.tute," vol. x.x.xiii. art. lvii. p. 482:
"It is very pleasing to hear the deep rich notes of the parson-bird--to see a pair of them together diligently occupied in extracting honey from the tree-flowers, the sun shining on their glossy sub-metallic dark plumage."
Partridge-Pigeon, n. an Australian pigeon.
1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition," p. 8:
"The partridge-pigeon (Geophaps scripta) abounded in the Acacia groves."
Partridge-wood, n. another name for the Cabbage-Palm (q.v.).
Pa.s.sion-flower, Native, n. Several species of the genus Pa.s.siflora are so called in Australia; some are indigenous, some naturalised.
1859. H. Kingsley, `Geoffrey Hamlyn," p. 398:
"The native pa.s.sion-flower, scarlet and orange, was tangled up with the common purple sarsaparilla and the English honeysuckle and jessamine."
Pastoralist, n. The squatters are dropping their old name for this new one. A Pastoralist is a sheep or cattle-farmer, the distinction between him and an Agriculturist being, that cultivation, if he undertakes it at all, is a minor consideration with him.
1891. March 15 [t.i.tle]:
"The Pastoralists" Review," No. 1.
1892. `Scribner"s Magazine," Feb., p. 147:
"A combination has been formed by the squatters under the name of the Pastoralists" Union."
Patagorang, n. one of the aboriginal names for the Kangaroo (q.v.), and see Paddy-melon.
Pataka, n. Maori word for storehouse, supported on a post to keep off rats. See Whata.
1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand," c. i.
p. 283:
"We landed at the pataka, or stage."
Patiki, n. the Maori name for the Flounder (q.v.). The accent is on the first syllable of the word.
1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of the Language of New Zealand"
(Church Missionary Society), p. 190:
"Patiki, s. a fish so called."
1844. F. Tuckett, `Diary," May 31:
"A fine place for spearing soles or patike (the best of fish)."
1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui," p. 412:
"Patiki, common name for the sole and flat-fish; the latter is found in rivers, but decreases in size as it retires from the sea."
1879. Captain Mair, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,"
vol. xii. art. xlvi. p. 316:
"Large patiki, flat-fish, are occasionally speared up the river."
Patriot, n. Humorously applied to convicts.
1796. In `History of Australia," by G. W. Rusden (1894), p. 49 [Footnote]:
"In 1796 the Prologue (erroneously imputed to a convict Barrington, but believed to have been written by an officer) declared:
`True patriots we, for be it understood We left our country for our country"s good.""
Patter, v. to eat. Aboriginal word, and used in pigeon- English, given by Collins in his vocabulary of the Port Jackson dialect. Threlkeld says, ta is the root of the verb, meaning "to eat."
1833. C. Sturt, `Southern Australia," vol. ii. c. vii. p. 223:
"He himself did not patter (eat) any of it."
Patu, n. Maori generic term for all hand-striking weapons. The mere (q.v.) is one kind.
1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open," p. 82:
"It (fern-root) was soaked, roasted, and repeatedly beaten with a small club (patu) on a large smooth stone till it was supple."
Paua, n. the Maori name for the Mutton- fish (q.v.). Also used as the name for Maori fishhooks, made of the paua sh.e.l.l; the same word being adopted for fish, sh.e.l.l, and hook.
1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand"
(Church Missionary Society), p. 191:
"Paua, s. a sh.e.l.l-fish so called."
1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui," p. 416:
"Pawa (Haliotis iris), or mutton-fish. This beautiful sh.e.l.l is found of considerable size; it is used for the manufacture of fish-hooks."
1855. Ibid. p.397:
"The natives always tie a feather or two to their paua, or fish-hooks."
1877. W. L. Buller, `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,"
vol. x. art. xix. p. 192:
"Elaborately carved, and illuminated with paua sh.e.l.l."