OF LA PER0USE. l6j 



*The food on which they fubfifl being very 

 ealy to feize upon, nature has given them a 

 mouth by no means wide* 



The water in which they moll commonly live 

 renders neceflary a great refrangibility in the hu- 

 mours of the eye ; accordingly the vitreous hu- 

 mour was very thick. 



Thefe animals can admit into their eye, at 

 pleafure, a greater or lefs quantity of light by 

 means of a membrane, called membrana niclitans. 



The different labours in which I was engaged, 

 prevented me from pufhing farther my inquiries 

 on this fubjec*t. 



The dried excrements yielded a very fine pow- 

 der, of a beautiful colour of rather deep fulphur. 

 The painter of the expedition conlidered it as 

 very fit to be employed in the arts. 



I had not as yet been able to procure the flow- 

 ers of a new fpecies of eucalyptus > remaskable for 

 its fruit, which nearly relembles a coat-button. 



This tree, one of the moft lofty in nature, 

 fome of them being a demi-hectometer in height, 

 bears flowers only near its fummit. The ftem per- 

 fectly refembles that of the eucalyptus refmifera 

 flripped of its fungous bark ; and in other re- 

 fpecls thefe two trees are nearly of the fame di- 

 mensions. The trunk, which is tapered gra- 

 dually for at leaft half of its length, is fit for 

 ihip-building, and might ferve for mails and 

 m 2. yards, 



