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Overview

Bibbee camps near Deereeree, a widow with four daughters who repeatedly keeps herself awake in fear. He offers protection through marriage, but she refuses him. Seeking to change her decision, he makes a brilliant, many-coloured arch called Euloowirree and places it across the sky as a roadway between earth and stars. Frightened by its appearance, Deereeree takes the children to his camp. He claims this work demonstrates his power and safety as a protector, then threatens to produce destructive things from the earth if she continues to refuse him.

The account says that fear of his power, combined with admiration of his skill, brings about the marriage. Long afterward, when he dies, Bibbee becomes the woodpecker or climbing tree bird. Its repeated ascent of trees is likened to seeking further routes into the sky after his famous rainbow roadway. The tale supplies an extraordinary construction and a concluding bird identity, but no technical method of building the rainbow. The marriage is presented as the result of pressure and a threat, rather than an uncomplicated romantic reward.

Builds Euloowirree rainbowThreatens destructive creationsMarriage under pressureWoodpecker-form conclusion
01

Origins & earliest records

K. Langloh Parker, Australian Legendary Tales (1896), Deereeree the Wagtail, and the Rainbow. Narran-region collection; individual narrator unspecified.

02

Records & interpretation

The complete published English narrative identifies the rainbow maker, the widow’s resistance and the distinct final bird forms. Collector mediation and regional scope are retained.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Australian Legendary Tales: Deereeree the Wagtail, and the Rainbow

    K. Langloh Parker · 1896

    Complete selected narrative; Euloowirree is the named rainbow. Four children belong to Deereeree; their father is not identified.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary historical collected narrativeParker: Deereeree the Wagtail, and the RainbowResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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