aka, or tirakaraka. This restless little bird is
continually on the wing, or hopping from twig to twig."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 403:

"Piwakawaka, tirakaraka, the fantailed fly-catcher, a pretty,
restless, lively bird; very sociable, and fond of displaying
its beautiful little fan-tail. It has a head like the
bullfinch, with one black-and-white streak under the neck
coming to a point in the centre of the throat. Wings very
sharp and pointed. It is very quick and expert in catching
flies, and is a great favourite, as it usually follows the
steps of man. It was sacred to Maui."

1885. A. Reischek, `Transactions of the New Zealand
Institute,' vol. xviii. art. xviii. p. 102:

"Rhipidura--fantail (Piwakawaka). Every one admires the two
species of these fly-catchers, and their graceful evolutions
in catching their prey."

1890. C. Colenso, `Transactions of the New Zealand Institute:
Bush Notes,' vol. xxiii. art. lvii. p. 482:

"During this extended visit of mine to the woods, I have
noticed the piwakawaka, or fly-catcher (<i>Rhipidura
flabellifera</i>). This interesting little flycatcher, with
its monotonous short cry, always seems to prefer making the
acquaintance of man in the forest solitudes."

1895. W. S.Roberts, `Southland in 1856,' p. 53:

"The pied fantail, Piwakawaka (Rhipidura flabellifera) is the
best flycatcher New Zealand possesses, but it will not live in
confinement. It is always flitting about with broadly expanded
tail in pursuit of flies. It frequently enters a house and
soon clears a room of flies, but if shut in all night it frets
itself to death before morning."

<hw>Plain</hw>, <i>n</i>. In Australian use, the word not only
implies flatness, but treelessness.

1824. Edward Curr, `Account of the Colony of Van Diemen's
Land,' p. 55:

"The district called Macquarie Plains, the greater part of
which rises into hills of moderate height, with open and
fertile valleys interspersed, while the plains bear a strong
resemblance to what are called sheep downs in England."

1848. T. L. Mitchell, `Tropical Australia,' p. 136:

"The country was grassy, and so open as almost to deserve the
colonial name of `plain.'"

1873. A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' vol. i.
p. 250:

"Squatters who look after their own runs always live in the
bush, even though their sheep are pastured on plains."

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 73:

"One day an egg o