Naming wildlife

The English settlers coming to a strange land began to give the creatures names from their homeland.

The large kangaroos were obviously strange so they accepted the name of the locals, the Aborigines.

The smaller kinds which hopped in similar fashion they termed kangaroo rats, the other marsupials which looked something like felines became native cats.

The larger killers of Tasmania became devils while the doglike creatures became a tiger.

Small animals like ants of England living in colonies; though these were white and ate timber; were termed white ants.

The names became useful for the politicians.

At a country town in Western Australia I was asked to give a lunchtime lecture to a large audience with the guest of honour Robert Menzies, the prime minister.

I began: "I wish politicians would learn a little natural history; so when they use animals to score a political point; they don't make stupid mistakes.

"For example," and I looked hard at Menzies, "often they talk of radicals white-anting the structure of good government."

"Actually they are not ants but termites; which do a lot of good in the Australian bush; destroying old timber to let vigorous new growth come through."

Everyone laughed including Robert.

At the close of the lunch, he asked the chairman "What are his politics?"

"Radical I'm afraid."

His reply: "Pity. I could have used him."

That blew my potential life in politics.

Then, the director of the WA Museum had a brilliant idea.

"Why not find the Aboriginal names; get rid of the English hybrids?"

The government agreed so the beautiful banded anteater became a numbat, the mammal emblem of the State.

In the eastern States, the lovable teddy bear come to life became the koala, a tourist asset today worth millions each year.

Native cats became quolls, kangaroo rats became easy-to-say woylies, quokka, mala and munning.

Commercial considerations came into play with fish being given new names.

Jewfish, the old name for their facial features were in the west changed to pearl perch; in the east to mulloway; while the common name snapper; in gourmet restaurants were spelled schnappers.

I wish Tasmanians would change the name muttonbird to golden shearwater.

They have done this with Cape Barren geese; breading them for gourmet restaurants; shearwaters roasted become a delicious meal.

Vincent Serventy, Pearl Beach