Re: Common Names

[morris <>]

Hi there Mr Cooney,

Is your note a joke? Are you aware that neither Emu or Jabiru are
aboriginal words? The word Emu originated in Arabia from the name for an
ostrich. Pronounced in arabic as "na ema" Arab emigrants took the name
around the known world sat the time and eventually to Portugal, when the
Portugese incorporated it into their language so that "Na emah"
eventually became "ema". The name was adopted by the Dutch for Ostrich
and so used by Dutch sailors when they saw something like an Ostrich on
the Western Australian coast. The name "Jabiru"is a Brazilian native
name for a large South American stork adopted by the Portuguese (again!)
and used to describe our Black-necked Stork!
Perhaps you should quit while the going is good!

Alan Morris