lock of sheep, or a herd of cattle . . .
While I watched the mop I had collected." [This, thus spelt,
seems the earliest instance.]

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 6:

"Droves of kangaroos."

Of <i>Men</i>--

[But with the Australian and not the ordinary English
signification.]

1874. W. M. B., `Narrative of Edward Crewe,' p. 223:

"A contractor in a large way having a mob of men in his
employ."

1890. `The Argus,' Aug.16, p.13, Col. 2:

"It doesn't seem possible to get a mob of steady men for work
of that sort now."

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. ix. p. 69:

"He, tho' living fifty miles away, was one of the `Dunmore
mob,' and aided generally in the symposia which were there
enjoyed."

Of <i>Blackfellows</i>--

1822. J. West, `History of Tasmania' (1852), vol. ii.
p. 12:

"The settlers of 1822 remember a number of natives, who roamed
about the district, and were known as the `tame mob'; they
were absconders from different tribes."

1830. Newspaper (Tasmanian), March, (cited J. West, `History
of Tasmania,' vol. ii. p. 42):

"A mob of natives appeared at Captain Smith's hut, at his run."

1835. H. Melville, `History of Van Diemen's Land,' p. 75:

"A mob of some score or so of natives, men, women, and
children, had been discovered by their fires."

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia', p. 107:

"A whole crowd of men on horseback get together, with a mob
of blacks to assist them."

1892. Rolf Boldrewood, `Robbery under Arms,' p. 134:

"At the side of the crowd was a small mob of blacks with their
dogs, spears, possum rugs, and all complete."

Of <i>Cattle</i>--

1860. R. Donaldson, `Bush Lays,' p. 14:

"Now to the stockyard crowds the mob;
'Twill soon be milking time."

1872. C. H. Eden, `My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 70:

"A number of cattle collected together is colonially termed
a mob."

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. ii.
p. 105:

"A mixed mob of cattle--cows, steers, and heifers--
had to be collected."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `A Colonial Reformer,' p. 120:

"`Mobs' or small sub-divisions of the main herd."

Of <i>Sheep</i>--

1860. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 169:

"It was more horrible to see the drowning, or just drowned,
huddled-up `mob' (as sheep en masse are technically called)
which had made the dusky patch we noticed from the hill."

1875. `Spectator' (Melbourne), Ma