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Laburnum, Native, n. the Tasmanian Clover-tree, Goodenia lotifolia, Salvadori., N.O. Leguminosae.
Laburnum, Sea-coast, n. also called Golden Chain, Sophora tomentosa, Linnaeus., N.O. Leguminosae; a tall, hoary shrub.
Lace-bark . Lacey-bark, or Lacewood, n. names for Ribbonwood (q.v.). The inner bark of the tree is like fine lace.
1876. W. N. Blair, 'Transactions of New Zealand Institute,' vol. IX. art. x. p. 175:
'Ribbonwood, Plagianthus betulinus, botanical name, Hooker; Whauwhi, Maori name, according to Hector; lace-bark tree, settlers' name, according to Buchanan.'
1882. T. H. Potts, 'Out in the Open':
'The soft, bright-foliaged ribbonwood (lace-bark, Plagianthus) contrasts with the dusky hue of the dark-leaved fagus.'
Lace-Lizard, n. Hydrosaurus (Varanus) varius. See Goanna.
1881. F. McCoy, 'Prodomus of the Natural History of Victoria,' Decaisne. 4:
'Although the present Lace Lizard is generally arboreal, climbing the forest trees with ease, and running well on the ground, it can swim nearly as well as a Crocodile.'
Lagorchestes, n. the scientific name for a genus of Australian marsupial mammals, called the Hare- Wallabies or Hare-Kangaroos (q.v.). (Grk. lagows, a hare, and 'orchestaes, a dancer.) They live on plains, and make a 'form' in the herbage like the hare, which they resemble.
Lagostrophus, n. the scientific name of the genus containing the animal called the Banded-Wallaby. (Grk. lagows, a hare, and strophos, a band or zone.) Its colour is a greyish-brown, with black and white bands, its distinguishing characteristic. It is sometimes called the Banded-Kangaroo, and is found at Dirk Hartog's Island, and on one or two islands in Shark's Bay, and in West Australia. For its interesting habits see R. Lyddeker's 'Marsupialia.'
Lake-Trout, n. a Tasmanian fish, Galaxias auratus, family Galaxidae. See Mountain- Trout.
Lamb down . v. tr.
(1) To knock down a cheque or a sum of money in a spree. There is an old English verb, of Scandinavian origin, and properly spelt lamm, which means to thrash, beat.
1873. J. B. Stephens, 'Black Gin,' p. 51:
'It is the Bushman come to town-- Come to spend his cheque in town, Come to do his lambing down.'
1890. 'The Argus,' June 7, p. 4, col. 2:
'The lambing down of cheques.'
1890. Ibid. Aug. 9, p. 4, col. 5:
'The old woman thought that we were on gold, and would lamb down at the finish in her shanty.'
(2) To make a man get rid of his money to you; to clean him out.'
1873. Marcus Clarke, 'Holiday Peak, etc.,' p. 21:
'The result was always the same--a shilling a nobbler. True, that Trowbridge's did not 'lamb down' so well as the Three Posts, but then the Three Posts put fig tobacco in its brandy casks, and Trowbridge's did not do that.'
1880. Garnet Walch, 'Victoria in 1880,' p.30:
'The operation--combining equal parts of hocussing, overcharging, and direct robbery--and facetiously christened by bush landlords 'lambing down.''
1890. 'The Argus,' Aug. 16, p. 4, col. 7:
'One used to serve drinks in the bar, the other kept the billiard-table. Between them they lambed down more shearers and drovers than all the rest on the river.'
Lamprey, n. The Australian Lampreys are species of the genera Mordacia and Geotria, of the same family as the 'Lampreys' of the Northern Hemisphere.
Lancelet, n. The fishes of this name present in Australasia are--
In Queensland, Epigonichthys cultellus, Peters, family Amplingae; in Victoria and New South Wales, species of Heteropleuron.
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