There were two splitters located near us . . . they had a
licence to split timber on the crown lands."

1870. A. L. Gordon, `Bush Ballads--Wolf and Hound,' p. 32:

"At the splitter's tent I had seen the track
Of horse hoofs, fresh on the sward."

<hw>Spoonbill</hw>, <i>n</i>. a bird-name widely used.
The Australian species are--

Royal Spoonbill--
<i>Platalea regia</i>.

Yellow-billed S.--
<i>P. flavipes</i>.

<i>P. regia</i> has a fine crest in the breeding season;
hence the name.

1863. M. K. Beveridge, `Gatherings among Gum-trees,' p. 79:

"The sun is sinking in the western sky,
And ibises and spoonbills thither fly.

<hw>Spotted-tree</hw>. Same as <i>Leopard-tree</i> (q.v.).

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 216:

"Spotted or Leopard Tree. The gum from this tree forms good
adhesive mucilage. It reminds one strongly of East-India
gum-arabic of good quality. During the summer months large
masses, of a clear amber-colour, exude from the stem and
branches. It has a very pleasant taste, is eaten by the
aboriginals, and forms a very common bushman's remedy in
diarrhoea."

<hw>Spotted-Orchis</hw>, <i>n</i>. Tasmanian name for the
Orchid <i>Dipodium punctatum</i>, R. Br.

<hw>Spotting</hw>, <i>n</i>. New Zealand equivalent for the
Australian "picking the eyes out," and "peacocking." Under
<i>Free-selection</i> (q.v.), the squatter spotted his run,
purchasing choice spots.

<hw>Spotty</hw>, <i>n</i>. a New Zealand fish, a Wrass,
<i>Labrichthys bothryocosmus</i>, Richards.; also called
<i>Poddly</i> (q.v.), and <i>Kelp-fish</i> (q.v.).

1878. P. Thomson, `Transactions of New Zealand Institute,'
vol. xi. art. lii. p. 384:

"Wrasse, parrot-fish, and spotties are often in the market.
There are two kinds of spotties, a big and a little. The
wrasse and the parrot-fish are mostly caught outside amongst
the kelp, and these, with the spotty, are indiscriminately
called kelp-fish by the fishermen."

<hw>Sprag</hw>, <i>n</i>. In gold-mining. See quotation.
The word is used in England, applied to coal-mining.

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. iii. p. 23:

"A `sprag,' being a stout piece of hard wood, was inserted
between the rope and the iron roller on which the rope ran."

<hw>Squat</hw>, v. to be a squatter (q.v.) in any of the senses
of that word.

1846. Feb. 11, `Speech by Rev. J. D. Lang,' quoted in
`Phillipsland,' p. 410:

In whatever direction one moves