Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/26

18 the sea much sponge of the species called spongia cancellata, great quantities of which we saw thrown upon the shore.

In the midst of these downs grew a new species of plantain, which I call plantago tricuspidata, from the form of its leaves. This must be reckoned among the most useful plants, which this country affords for the food of man. The hope of finding some vegetables fit to eat as sallad had induced the most provident among us, to bring the necessary sauce, and the sallad furnished by the leaves of this plant, which were very tender, was highly relished by all the company.

Several kinds of grass, among which I noticed many new species of fescue (festuca), served to bind the sand together. A new geranium, with an herbaceous stalk, very small, and with leaves deeply cut, was among the number of plants I collected. It was the first plant of the genus, that I found in this country.

I had observed several burrows made in the ground, where the sand had sufficient solidity, but I knew not by what animal they were formed; when a kangarou of a middle size started up at our approach, and ran into one of them. We fired in several times, hoping the smoke would drive him out, but he would not quit his hole.

Several tracks of kangarous through a little wood