It is not too much to say that all the early success of
Australia was due to the squatters of New South Wales,
who followed the steps of Captain McArthur."

1878. `The Australian,' vol. i. p. 532:

"I have been a super, a small freeholder, and a middling-sized
squatter, at different times."

1889. Rev. J. H. Zillmann, `Australian Life,' p. 165:

"The Squatters are the large leaseholders and landed
proprietors of the colony, whose cry has always been that the
country was unfit for agricultural settlement, and only adapted
for the pastoral pursuits in which they were engaged. . . .
It is true the old squatter has been well-nigh exterminated."

1893. J. F. Hogan, `Robert Lowe,' p. 36:

"The pastoral enterprise of the adventurous squatters.
Originally unrecognized trespassers on Crown lands. . . ."

(3) Applied as a nickname to a kind of <i>Bronze-wing
Pigeon</i> (q.v.).

1872. C. H. Eden, `My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 122:

"On the plains you find different kinds of pigeons, the
squatters being most common--plump, dust-coloured little
fellows, crouching down to the ground quite motionless as you
pass. I have frequently killed them with my stock-whip."

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 114:

"Gentle little squatter-pigeons cooed lovingly in answer to
their mates on all sides."

<hw>Squatterarchy</hw>, <i>n</i>. squatters collectively.

1887. R. M. Praed, `Longleat of Kooralbyn,' c. iii. p. 25:

"The Squatterarchy of the Koorong rose up in a body and named
its hero, martyr."

<hw>Squatterdom</hw>, <i>n</i>. the state of being a squatter,
or collective word for squatters; the squatter-party.

1866 (circiter). `Political parody':

"The speaker then apologised, the Members cried, Hear, Hear;
And e'en the ranks of squatterdom could scarce forbear to
cheer."

1868. J. Bonwick, `John Batman, Founder of Victoria,' p. 94:

"Writes to another at a distance upon the subject of
squatterdom."

<hw>Squatting</hw>, adj.

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition' (Introd.), p. 13:

"During my recent excursions through the squatting districts,
I had accustomed myself to a comparatively wild life."

1847. J. D. Lang, `Cooksland,' p. 268:

"The large extent of land occupied by each Squatting Station."

1890. `The Argus,' June 7, p. 4, col. 2:

"A gathering of the squatting and bush life of Australia."

<hw>Squattocracy</hw>, <i>n</i>. squatters collectively.

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