Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0236
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[Page 236]
232.
Towards New South Wales
that I had shot dischard a large quantity incredible as it may appear that any animal should feed upon this blubber whose stings innumerable give a much more Acute pain to a hand which touches them than Nettles
12. Calm again I again went out in my small boat & shot much the same birds as yesterday took up also cheifly the same animals to which was added indeed Actinia natans I again saw undoubted proofs that the Albatrosses eat Holothurias or Portugese men of War as the sea men call them I had also an opportunity of observing the manner in which this animal stings it the body of it Consists of a bladder on the upper side of which is fixd a kind of Sail which he erects or depresses at pleasure the Edges of this he also at pleasure gathers in so as to make it at pleasure Concave on one side & convex on the other varying the Concavity or convexity to which ever side he pleases for the Conveniency of catching the wind which moves him slowly upon the surface of the sea in any direction he pleases under the bladder hang down two kinds of strings one smooth & transparent which are harmless the other full of small round knobbs having much the appearance of small beads strung these he contracts or