ack by a sort of excrescence which grew on the
latter; each ring or division of the body was furnished with two pairs of
legs, one pair pointing downwards from the stomach, the other pair
projecting from the back; these legs were composed of bristles, and by
sticking them into the timber they were able to maintain their hold and
to walk along. In thus progressing they drew into a case the legs of the
rings they were going to move, and pushed them forward by means of the
other legs, and then, letting down the legs they had drawn into the case,
they stuck them into the wood and made good their ground. Their habit was
to lie about amongst the weeds that grew on the tree or to creep into
some large holes that were in it. They did not die when I took them out
of water but lived for sixteen hours, and were then as well and strong as
ever, only dying after they had been put into spirits.

I got also two pieces of stones from the roots of this tree; they were
small, quite angular, and had been carried this distance from the
continent of America without any appearance of being water-worn. This
must often take place when trees are blown down and washed away by
floods, and in this manner angular pieces of stone may be conveyed many
miles from the rock from which they were derived by the agency of water,
and yet not be water-worn.

August 31.

At 11 hours 30 minutes A.M. we found a portion of the timber of a ship on
the water, containing animals similar to those on the pine-tree
yesterday: this was perforated through and through by different species
of teredo.

CHAPTER 8. THE OVERLANDERS.

CLASS OF PERSONS.

It is to be expected that a totally new state of things will, in recently
settled countries, give rise to different orders or classes of men
unknown in older lands, but who have been called into existence by novel
circumstances, and whose energies have been so developed as best to suit
the modifications which these hitherto unexperienced causes may produce.
In collecting information regarding the condition of our settlements in
Australia my attention was particularly drawn to the mode of life pursued
by some of my enterprising fellow-countrymen, known there under the
denomination of Overlanders, and which is characterised by several
remarkable peculiarities well deserving of observation, particularly at a
time when so many young and adventurous spirits are looking towards that
continent as the land of their future fort