Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0065
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[Page 65]
To Brazil
Octr. 1768
& took what is calld by the Seamen a Portugese man of war, Holothuria Physalis Linn; also Medusa velella L. onidium spinosum Mss, Diodon Erinaceus Mss, dagysa vitrea Mss, Helix Janthina Linn, - violacea Mss & procellaria Oceanica Mss. The Holothuria provd to be one of the most beatifull sights I had ever seen, it consisted of a small bladder in shape much like the air bladder of fishes, from the bottom of which descended a number of strings of bright blue & red, some three or four feet in lengh which if touchd stung the person who touchd them in the same manner as nettles, only much stronger: on the top of this Bladder was a membrane which he made hollow turnd either one way or the other as the wind blew, to receive it, this was veind with pink, in an uncommonly