| 释义 |
quelea|ˈkwiːlɪə|
[mod.L., the specific name of Emberiza quelea (Linnæus Systema Naturæ (ed. 10, 1758) I. 177), perh. f. med.L. qualea quail n.; adopted as a generic name by H. G. L. Reichenbach (Avium Systema Naturale (1850) pl. lxxvi).]
An African weaver-bird of the genus so called, belonging to the family Ploceidæ, esp. the red-billed dioch, Quelea quelea, which is an important pest of grain crops; = dioch. Also attrib.
1930C. F. Belcher Birds Nyasaland 316 (heading) Black-fronted Quelea. 1936E. L. Gill First Guide S. Afr. Birds 26 Southern Pink-billed Weaver, Quelea Finch... The adult male in breeding plumage, with his black face surrounded by a halo of pink, is readily recognizable. 1957Benson & White Check List Birds N. Rhodesia 123 Red-billed Quelea... Only numerous in drier, more open areas. 1964[see dioch]. 1969N. W. Pirie Food Resources ii. 67 The weaver bird, or quelea, infests 2m square miles of Africa. 1969Sci. Jrnl. Apr. 15/1 Quelea birds..raid cereal crops in swarms numbered in millions. 1973Bokmakierie XXV. 46/2 Colleagues in Kenya handed Mr. Skead over to the Quelea Control officers. 1975Times 19 Feb. 14/6 Other exhibits [at the Centre for Overseas Pest Research] relate to army-worms, quelea birds, and termites. |