Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0375

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Transcription

[Page 375]

271.
Some account of New Holland

with each other as well as with divers doors which led from the nest  from each of these went a passage archd over leading to different parts of the tree & generaly one large one to the ground  this I am inclind to beleive communicated with the other kind of house  for as the animals inhabiting both were precisely the same I see no reason why they should be supposd  contrary to Every instance that I know in nature  to build two different kinds of houses unless according to the conveniences of Season  prey &c. they inhabited both equaly
this other kind of house which I now speak of was very often built near the foot of a tree  the Bark of which tree was always had upon it their coverd ways tho but seldom the first kind of house  it was formd like an irregularly sided Cone & sometimes was more than 6 feet high & near as much in diameter  the smaller ones were generaly flat sided & resembled very much the old stones which I have are seen in many parts of England & supposd to be remains of Druidical worship  the outside Coat of these was 2 inches thick at least  of hard well temperd clay  under which were their cells  to these no doors were to be seen  all their passages were underground  where

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