of a large ball. . . . No sooner were a few of these
balls (or, as we were in the habit of calling them,
`rolly-poleys') taken up with the current of air, than the
mules began to kick and buck. . . ."

1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery
and Exploration of Australia,' vol. ii. p. 468:

"A salsolaceous plant growing in the form of a ball several
feet high. In the dry season it withers, and is easily broken
off and rolled about by the winds, whence it is called
roley-poly by the settlers."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 100:

"Roly-Poly Grass. This species produces immense dry and
spreading panicles; it is perennial, and seeds in November and
December. It is a somewhat straggling species, growing in
detached tufts, on sand-hills and sandy soil, and much relished
by stock."

1896. Baldwin Spencer, `Horne Expedition in Central
Australia,' Narrative, p. 13:

"On the loamy flats, and even gibber plains, the most
noticeable plant is <i>Salsola kali</i>, popularly known as the
Rolly-polly. It is, when mature, one of the characteristically
prickly plants of the Lower Steppes, and forms great spherical
masses perhaps a yard or more in diameter."

<hw>Roman-Lamp Shell</hw>, name given in Tasmania to a
brachiopod mollusc, <i>Waldheimia flavescens</i>, Lamarck.

<hw>Roo</HW>, a termination, treated earlier as the name of an
animal. It is the termination of <i>potoroo, wallaroo</i>,
<i>kangaroo</i>. See especially the last. It may be added
that it is very rare for aboriginal words to begin with the
letter `r.'

1790. J. White, `Voyage to New South Wales' [Observations at
the end, by Mr. John Hunter, the celebrated surgeon]:

Plate p. 272--A kangaroo. Description of teeth.

Plate p. 278--Wha Tapoua Roo, about the size of a Racoon
[probably an opossum].

Plate p. 286--A Poto Roo or Kangaroo-Rat.

Plate p. 288--Hepoona Roo.

<hw>Rope</hw>, v. tr. to catch a horse or bullock with a noosed
rope. It comes from the Western United States, where it has
superseded the original Spanish word <i>lasso</i>, still used
in California.

1884. Rolf Boldrewood, `Melbourne Memories,' c. xxi. p. 150:

"You could `rope' . . . any Clifton colt or filly, back them
in three days, and within a week ride a journey."

<hw>Ropeable</hw>, <i>adj</i>. (1) Of cattle; so wild and
intractable as to be capable of subjection only by being roped.
See preceding word.

(2) By transferenc