p. 48 "Prickly as the points
of the Spaniard."

<hw>Spear-grass</hw>, <i>n</i>. name given to several grasses
whose spear-like seeds spoil the wool of sheep, but which are
yet excellent forage plants. They are--(1) all the species of
<i>Stipa</i>; (2) <i>Heteropogon contortus</i>, Roem. and
Schult., and others (see quotations); (3) and in New Zealand,
one or two plants of the umbelliferous genus <i>Aciphylla</i>;
also called <i>Spaniard</i> (q.v.).

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 44:

"Very disagreeable, however, was the abundance of burr and of a
spear-grass (<i>Aristida</i>)."

1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discovery
and Exploration of Australia,' vol. ii. p. 463 [Note]:

"On the south coast there is a grass seed which has similar
properties. The seeds are sharp and covered with fine barbs,
and once they penetrate the skin they will work their way
onwards. They catch in the wool of sheep, and in a short time
reach the intestines. Very often I have been shown the omentum
of a dead sheep where the grass seeds were projecting like a
pavement of pegs. The settlers call it spear-grass, and it is,
I believe, a species of <i>Anthistiria</i>."

1874. W. H. L. Ranken, `Dominion of Australia,' c. v. p. 86:

"Sheep in paddocks cannot be so well kept clear of
spear-grass."

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 90:

"<i>Heteropogon contortus</i>, Spear Grass. A splendid grass
for a cattle-run, as it produces a great amount of feed, but is
dreaded by the sheep-owner on account of its spear-like seeds."

1890. C. Lumholtz, `Among Cannibals,' p. 23:

"A nocuous kind of grass, namely the dreaded spear-grass
(<i>Andropogon contortus</i>), which grows on the coast,
and which rendered sheep-raising impossible."

<hw>Spear-Lily</hw>, <i>n</i>. See <i>Lily</i>.

<hw>Spearwood</hw>, the wood of three trees so called, because
the aborigines made their spears from it--<i>Acacia
doratoxylon</i>, A. Cunn., <i>A. homalophylla</i>, A. Cunn.,
both <i>N.O. Leguminosae</i>; and <i>Eucalyptus
doratoxylon</i>, F. v. M., <i>N.O. Myrtaceae</i>.

<hw>Speedwell, Native</hw>, <i>n</i>. The English
<i>Speedwell</i> is a <i>Veronica</i>. There is a Tasmanian
species, <i>Veronica formosa</i>, R. Br.,
<i>N.O. Scrophulariaceae</i>.

<hw>Spell</hw>, <i>n</i>. In England, a turn at work or duty;
in Australasia, always a period of rest from duty. It is quite
possible that etymologic