State Library of NSW
[Page 372]
268. Some account of New Holland
I had not an opportunity of seeing but that it was held down by main strengh I easily provd by disturbing a part of them on which the leaf bursting from the rest returnd to its natural situation & I had an opportunity to try with my finger the weight strengh that these little animals must have usd to get it down but industrious as they are their courage if possible excells their industry if we accidentaly shook the branches on which such nest were hung thousands would immediately throw themselves down many of which falling upon us made us sensible of their stings & revengefull dispositions especialy if as was often the case they got posession of our necks & hair their stings were by some esteemd not much less painfull that those of a bee the pain however lasted only a few seconds another sort there were quite black whose manner of living was most extrordinary they inhabited the inside of the Branches of one sort of tree the pith of which they hollowd out almost quite to the ends of the Branches nevertheless the tree flourishd as
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