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Rabbit-rat, n. name sometimes given to ahapalote (q.v.), in New South Wales.
Rabbiter, n. a man who lives by trapping rabbits, or who is employed to clear stations from them.
1892. E. W. Hornung, 'Under Two Skies,' p. 114:
'He would give him a billet. He would take him on as a rabbiter, and rig him out with a tent, camp fixings, traps, and perhaps even a dog or two.'
Radish-Tree, n. an Australian timber-tree, Codonocarpus cotinifolius, Ferdinand von Mueller, N.O. Phytolaceae; called also Poplar in Central Australia.
1894. 'Melbourne Museum Catalogue--Economic Woods,' No. 61:
'Radish-Tree: occurs in the Mallee-scrub very sparingly; attaining a height of thirty feet. The poplar of the Central Australian explorers. Whole tree strong-scented.'
Rager, n. an old and fierce bullock or cow, that always begins to rage in the stock-yard.
1884. Rolf Boldrewood, 'Melbourne Memories,' c. xiv. p. 105:
'Amongst them was a large proportion of bullocks, which declined with fiendish obstinacy to fatten. They were what are known by the stockriders as 'ragers,' or 'pig-meaters'' [q.v.].
1890. Rolf Boldrewood, 'Colonial Reformer,' c. xvi. p. 196:
'Well, say a hundred off for ragers.''
Rail, n. common English birdname. There are many varieties in New Zealand and Australia, especially in the former colony, and the authorities differ as to whether some should be classed as distinct species. Some are common to Australasia, others endemic in New Zealand or Australia; their distribution in this respect is marked below in parentheses. Several species receive more than one vernacular name, as the following list shows--
Banded Rail (N.Z. and A.)-- Rallus philippensis, Linnaeus.
Chestnut-bellied R. (A.)-- Eulabeornis castaneiventris, Gould.
Dieffenbach's R. (see quotation below)-- Rallus dieffenbachii, Gray.
Hutton's R. (N.Z.)-- Cabalus modestus, Hutton.
Land R. (N.Z. and A.)-- Rallus philippensis, Linnaeus.
Marsh R. (Australasia)-- Ortygometra tabuensis, Finsch. and Hard.
Pectoral R. (N.Z. and A.)-- Rallus philippensis, Linnaeus.
Red-necked R. (A.)-- Rallina tricolor, Gray.
Slate-breasted R. (A.)-- Hypotaenidia brachipus, Swainson.
Swainson's R. (N.Z. and A.)-- Rallina brachipus, Swainson.
Swamp R. (Australasia)-- Ortygometra tabuensis, Finsch. and Hard.
Tabuan R. (Australasia)-- O. tabuensis, Finsch. and Hard.
Weka R. (N.Z. See Weka.)--
See also Takahe and Notornis.
1888. W.L. Buller, 'Birds of New Zealand,' p. 121:
'Dieffenbach's Rail. . . . This beautiful Rail was brought from the Chatham Islands by Dr. Dieffenbach in 1842, and named by Mr. Gray in compliment to this enterprising naturalist. The adult specimen in the British Museum, from which my description was taken, is unique, and seems likely to remain so.'
1893. Prof Parker, 'Catalogue of New Zealand Exhibition,' p. 116:
'Hutton's rail, the third of the endemic rails . . . is confined to the Chatham Islands.'
Rain-bird, n. The name is popularly given in many parts of the world to various birds. The Rain-bird of Queensland and the interior is the Great Cuckoo or Channel-bill (Scythrops novae-hollandiae, Latham., q.v.).
1860. G. Bennett, 'Gatherings of a Naturalist,' p. 283:
'We discovered a nest of full-fledged birds of the Australian Shrike or Butcher-bird, also called Rain-bird by the colonists (Vanga destructor). They were regarded by our companions as a prize, and were taken accordingly to be caged, and instructed in the art of whistling tunes, in which they are great adepts.'
Rainbow-fish, n. a New Zealand fish, Heteroscharus castelnaui, Macleay.
Rama-rama, n. Maori name for a New Zealand shrub, Myrtus bullata, Banks and Solander. The name is used in the North Island. It is often corrupted into Grama.
Rangatira, n. Maori word for a chief, male or female; a master or mistress (Williams); therefore an aristocrat, a person of the gentle class, distinguished from a tau-rikarika, a nobody, a slave.
1820. 'Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand' (Church Missionary Society), p. 200:
'Ranga tira, a gentleman or lady.'
1845. E. J. Wakefield, 'Adventures in New Zealand,' c. i. p. 173:
'I took care to tell them that the rangatira, or 'chief' missionaries, would come out with the settlers.'
Ibid. c. ii. p. 461:
'Rangatira is Maori for 'chief,' and Rangatira-tango is therefore truly rendered 'chieftainship.''
1893. 'Otago Witness, 'Decaisne. 21, p. 11:
'Te Kooti is at Puketapu with many Rangatiras; he is a great warrior,--a fighting chief. They say he has beaten the pakehas' (q.v.).
Ranges, n. the usual word in Australia for 'mountains.' Compare the use of 'tiers' in Tasmania.
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