Talk:Bunyip

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why did Sun do this?

r2d2# uname -a
SunOS r2d2 5.9 Generic_118558-09 sun4u sparc SUNW,Ultra-5_10
r2d2# netstat -k | grep bunyip
bunyip_name_cache:
bunyip_mem_cache:
r2d2#

Contents

[edit] removed sections

I removed:

In 1846 a strange skull was taken from the banks of Murrumbidgee River in NSW. In the first flush of excitement, several experts concluded that it was the skull of something unknown to science. In 1847 the so-called bunyip skull was put on exhibitin in the Australian Museum (Sydney) for two days. Visitors flocked to see it and it the Sydney Morning Herald said that it prompted many people to speak out about their 'bunyip sightings'
"Almost everyone became immediately aware that he had heard 'strange sounds' from the lagoons at night, or had seen 'something black' in the water."

Gradually the debate calmed down but on final mystery remains- What happened to the 'bunyip skull'? It disappeared and has never been sighted since.

As it had no reference. Happy to put back if referenced. Maustrauser 05:09, 20 January 2006 (UTC)

That bunyip is still here. People who try and work out re this stuff are funny. I heard it here big time in Feb 2004,. He is a bit quiet lately though so hope he stays quiet. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 203.54.9.202 (talk • contribs) 19:32, 9 July 2006 (UTC+10 hours (AEST))

Here is a reference: http://www.nla.gov.au/exhibitions/bunyips/html-site/evidence/skull.html addition seems a little too verbatim from the National Library site, but it is still factual --A Y Arktos 06:39, 20 January 2006 (UTC)

Righto, I had better do as I say and put it back! It does seem that the author of that para was happy to take it verbatim though! Maustrauser 11:11, 20 January 2006 (UTC)

I'm removing the Alternate Meanings section 'The word bunyip is also used as a nickname for rabbits due to the obvious similarity to the word bunny' reference. I've never heard this used here in Australia, and the only google references I can find are either snarfed copies of this page, or references to the inspiration of Bertie the Bunyip. If the use is extant elsewhere, then it should be substantiated & the location included. Drjon 07:58, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

How about a pop culture reference to this, which I remember from childhood in Nz?

"Picture Book of the Year. Children's Book Council of Australia. ... 1974 - Ron Brooks, The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek"

From a google search

Definitely - I remember it too. --Centauri 07:04, 27 June 2006 (UTC)

Also - what about a reference to "Bunyip Bluegum" from "The Magic Pudding" - insanely popular Australian childrens' story book? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kuzzer (talk • contribs) 11:59, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Characteristics?

The Characteristics section is HORRIBLE! It needs a complete re-write. It sounds like its out of a horror film.

That's because it is, or actually horror tales. While it seems that the bunyip is a preserved folk memory of diprotodonts, after their extinction the characteristics of the living animal gradually changed into a mythological bogeyman, as they could no longer be observed to be peaceful herbivores with a lifestyle similar to a less-aquatic hippo and only the most conspicuous attributes (size, loud voice) stuck and became embellished until the bunyip became a dangerous mythological beast.

That being said, I wonder whether the translation is accurate, or an European attempt to rephrase in more familiar terminology something they had no idea that it might actually have once existed. "Devil" is certainly a mistranslation ("bogeyman" might be more accurate), and "spirit" is rather shaky given that numerous "spirit" entities were presumed to hang around in Alchera. Dysmorodrepanis 13:09, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Name

From which language(s) is the name? As Aborigines seem to identify diprotodont bones as "bunyip bones", it is altogether likely that at least some of the oral tradition refers in fact to this animal. Etnhologic research coupled with paleontology could draw a lot from this, but one would have to know first where the name originated, and corellate this with known diprotodont remains in that particular area. Dysmorodrepanis 13:09, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Notes

That note needs to be cleaned up--Matau 02:44, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Should "bunyip" be capitalised throught the article or not?

In the article, "bunyip" is sometimes capitalised, sometimes not.
Initially it isn't, then later on it intermittently is. In place-names, and in the titles of books, TV shows, and so on, and for bunyip characters that appear in them, Bunyip is correct. Otherwise, tho? I don't have an opinon either way, I just think that the article should be consistent in its capitalisation or not of the name of its subject matter.
Mmm...

Articles about existing Australian animals:

  • in Emu, 'emu' is capitalised thruout the article;
  • in Kangaroo, apart from genera/species names, 'kangaroo' is mosty, though not always, uncaptitalised;
  • in Koala, there is no consistency in capitalisation.

Articles about legendary animals:

Your opinions and views about any or all of the above? --Shirt58 11:52, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

Hard to know what's the recommended way, I was looking at fixing up the consistency also but like you found it was inconsistent (I too looked at the Kangaroo page amusingly).. I think the thing is that it's not a proper noun and as such should be lower case. If we were talking about "Barry the Bunyip" (proper noun) who is a bunyip (common noun). Although I guess you are then assuming that there's more than one bunyip for it to not be a proper noun. Though is it "The Bunyip" as a singular instance of a monster/creature? *shrug* I'm thinking lower case at this stage.. NathanLee 12:52, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Distribution

The Bunyip is described as being distributed across Australia, however i would argue that it is primarily an Eastern States phenomena. The article itself only cites claims originating from the south-eastern region. As a West Australian i am unfamiliar with the bunyip as being part of the popular local folklore. I would suggest the distriution either be amended to reflect the regional origins of the myth or a broader variety of claims be included to approximate an Australia-wide distribution in local culture. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wyldeboye (talk • contribs) 16:30, 6 November 2007 (UTC)