to paſs through the reſt of the inteſtinal canal, but is probably diſgorged in the ſame manner as many ſnakes diſgorge the bones of the animals on which they feed. Poſſibly too this ſand may ſerve them as a ſort of ballaſt, by which they are enabled to keep themſelves at the bottom of the ſea.
As the food upon which they live is very eaſily found, their mouth is formed with a very ſmall orifice. As they live more in the water than in the air, they require a great power of refraction in the humours of the eye; whence the vitreous humour is found to be very denſe. They are likewiſe provided with the membrana nictitans, whereby they are enabled to admit a greater or leſſer quantity of light to the eye at pleaſure.
The great variety of my other occupations did not permit me to purſue theſe anatomical inveſtigations any farther.
The dried excrements of this animal produce a very fine powder of a deep yellow colour, which our painter thought might be uſed with advantage in the arts.
6th. I had not as yet been able to procure any of the flowers of a new ſpecies of the eucalyptus, remarkable by its fruit, which very much reſembles a coat-button in ſhape.
This tree, which is one of the talleſt in nature,
