mahemn.

1802 Evangelical Mag. May 190 The honey bird,—unknown in Europe;..the pekwe, the segizi, the heem... The last, I think, is mentioned by Van Rhener, and called Hemoe.]

1826 A. G. Bain Jrnls. (1949) 93 I shot one of those beautiful birds called by the Caffres Mahem and by the Colonists Caffre Crane.

1827 G. Thompson Trav. S. Afr. 449 If a person kill by accident a mahem, (or Balearic crane,)..he is obliged to sacrifice a calf or young ox in atonement.

1899 G. Lacy Pictures of Travel, Sport, & Adventure 272 There were several varieties of the crane, including the lovely mahem or crested crane, and the great bell crane.

1905 W. L. Sclater in W. Flint & J. D. F. Gilchrist Science in S. Afr. 143 The Mahem or Crowned Crane (Balearica chrysopelargus).

1957 G. R. McLachlan & R. Liversidge Roberts Birds of S. Afr. p. xxiii We have not only two introduced European languages to consider, but also in the background a number of Native tribal names, some of which are in common use amongst Europeans, such as ‘Mahem’.

1980 J. O. Oliver Beginner's Guide to our Birds 45 When in flight they stretch their necks and legs, and often give their loud call as they fly away. The sound of this call has earned them the name of ‘Mahem’.

1994 A. Craig in M. Roberts tr. J. A. Wahlberg Trav. Jrnls 1838–56 35 Crowned crane Balearica regulorum, known as ‘Mahem’ from its call.