he
vegetation. They are the so-called <i>She-oaks</i> (q.v.). The
word is not, however, Australian, and is much older than the
discovery of Australia. Its etymology is contained in the
quotation, 1877.

1806. `Naval Chronicles,' c. xv. p. 460:

"Clubs made of the wood of the Casuarina."

1814. R. Brown, `Botany of Terra Australis,' in M. Flinders'
`Voyage to Terra Australis,' vol. ii. p. 571:

"Casuarinae. The genus <i>Casuarina</i> is certainly not
referable to any order of plants at present established
. . . it may be considered a separate order. . . . The maximum
of Casuarina appears to exist in Terra Australis, where it
forms one of the characteristic features of the vegetation."

1855. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' p. 160:

"The dark selvage of casuarinas fringing its bank."

1861. T. McCombie, `Australian Sketches,' p. 10:

"The vegetation assumed a new character, the eucalyptus and
casuarina alternating with the wild cherry and honeysuckle."

1877. F. v. Mueller, `Botanic Teachings,' p. 34:

"The scientific name of these well-known plants is as
appropriate as their vernacular appellation is odd and
unsuited. The former alludes to the cassowary (Casuarius), the
plumage of which is comparatively as much reduced among birds,
as the foliage of the casuarinas is stringy among trees. Hence
more than two centuries ago Rumph already bestowed the name
Casuarina on a Java species, led by the Dutch colonists, who
call it there the Casuaris-Boom. The Australian vernacular
name seems to have arisen from some fancied resemblance of the
wood of some casuarinas to that of oaks, notwithstanding the
extreme difference of the foliage and fruit; unless, as
Dr. Hooker supposes, the popular name of these trees and shrubs
arose from the Canadian `Sheack.'"

1889. J. H. Maiden, `Useful Native Plants,' p. 397:

"From a fancied resemblance of the wood of casuarinas to that
of oak, these trees are called `oaks,' and the same and
different species have various appellations in various parts."

1890. C. Lumholtz; `Among Cannibals,' p. 33:

"Along its banks (the Comet's) my attention was drawn to a
number of casuarinas--those leafless, dark trees, which always
make a sad impression on the traveller; even a casual observer
will notice the dull, depressing sigh which comes from a grove
of these trees when there is the least breeze.'"

<hw>Cat-bird</hw>, <i>n</i>. In America the name is given to
<i>Mimus caroli