e given to the
lighted stick which the Australian natives frequently carry
about, when moving from camp to camp, so as to be able to light
a fire always without the necessity of producing it by
friction. The fire-stick may be carried in a smouldering
condition for long distances, and when traversing open grass
country, such as the porcupine-grass covered districts of the
interior, the stick is used for setting fire to the grass,
partly to destroy this and partly to drive out the game which
is hiding amongst it. The <i>fire-stick </i> (see quotations)
is also used as emblematic of the camp-fire in certain
ceremonies.

1847. J. D. Lang,' Cooksland,'p. 126, n.:

"When their fire-stick has been extinguished, as is sometimes
the case, for their jins or vestal virgins, who have charge of
the fire, are not always sufficiently vigilant."

1896. F. J. Gillen, `Horne Expedition in Central Australia,'
Anthropology, pt. iv. p. 170:

"Carrying fire-sticks, they place rings, woven of fur and
vegetable down, round the boy's neck and arms and sometimes
over and under the shoulders; the fire-sticks are then handed
to him, the lubras saying: Take care of the fire; keep to your
own camp.'"

<hw>Firetail</hw>, <i>n.</i> name applied in Victoria to the
bird <i>AEgintha temporalis</i>, Lath.; and in Tasmania to
<i>Zonaeginthus (Estrelda) bellus</i>, Lath. In New South
Wales, <i>AE. temporalis</i> is known as the Red-head.

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iii. pl. 78:

"<i>Estrelda Bella</i>, Fire-tailed finch. Fire-tail,
Colonists of Van Diemen's Land."

<hw>Fire-tree</hw>, <i>n.</i> a tree of New Zealand; another
name for <i>Pohutukawa</i> (q.v.). For <i>Queensland
Fire-tree</i>, see <i>Tulip-tree</i>.

<hw>Fireweed</hw>, <i>n.</i> a name given to several weeds,
such as <i>Senecio lautus</i>, Sol., <i>N.O. Compositae</i>; so
called because they spring up in great luxuriance where the
forest has been burned off.

<hw>Fish-hawk</hw>, <i>n.</i> English name applied to
<i>Pandion leucocephalus</i>, Gould; called also the Osprey.

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. i. pl. 6:

"<i>Pandion Leucocephalus</i>, Gould, White-headed osprey.
Little fish hawk, Colonists of New South Wales. Fish-hawk,
Colonists of Swan River.''

<hw>Fist</hw>, <i>v</i>. to use the hands. The word is not
unknown in English in the sense of to grip. (Shakspeare, `Cor.'
IV. v. 124)

1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of A