Jim is right of course.
The early origin of this latin expression comes from Juvenal
: Rara avis in terris (- a rare bird on earth...). in his
major work: The Satires
(around 115 AD). I suppose Hammett knew the latin expression
that became more common as
"Rara avis"...
Of course, our list refers to Hammett's novel only.
E.Borgers HARD-BOILED MYSTERIES http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6384
>Mary,
>
>Re your question below:
>
>
>
>>Can someone clue me into what a RARA AVIS
is?
>>
>>I see plenty of definitions everywhere, but I
guess
>>I'm missing the
>>point.
>>
>>
>
>It's a reference to a line from the most famous
of
>hard-boiled crime novels, THE MALTESE FALCON, in
which
>Casper Gutman refers to the titular statuette as
a
>"rara avis" or "rare bird."
>
>JIM DOHERTY
>
>
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