[Ads-l] Antedating of "bunyip"

[Hugo]

bunyip (OED: 1848)

1845, Trove:

[Begin]
On the bone being shown to an in-
telligent black, he at once recognised
it as belonging to the "Bunyip,"
which he declared he had seen. On
being requested to make a drawing
of it, he did so without hesitation.
The bone and the picture were then
shown separately to different blacks
who had no opportunity of communicating
with each other; and they one
and all recognized the bone and picture
as belonging to the " Bunyip,"
repeating the name without variation.
...
The Bunyip, then, is represented as
uniting the characteristics of a bird
and of an alligator.
[End]

"WONDERFUL DISCOVERY OF A NEW ANIMAL." Geelong Advertiser and Squatters'
Advocate (Vic. : 1845 - 1847) 2 Jul 1845: 2. Web. 19 Dec 2014 <
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94443733>.

It goes on to give a long description of the mythical creature.

Hugo

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