25th August 1768. Plymouth.–After having waited in this place ten days, the ship and everything belonging to me being all that time in perfect readiness to sail at a moment's warning, we at last got a fair wind; and this day at three o'clock in the evening weighed anchor and set sail, all in excellent health and spirits, perfectly prepared (in mind at least) to undergo with cheerfulness any fatigues or dangers that may occur in our intended voyage.

26th. Saw this evening a shoal of those fish which are particularly called Porpoises by the seamen, probably the Delphinus Phocœna of Linnæus, as their noses are very blunt.

28th. In some sea water which was on board to season a cask, observed a very minute sea-insect, which Dr. Solander described by the name of Podura marina. Took several specimens of Medusa pelagica, whose different motions in swimming amused us very much; among the appendages to this animal we found also a new species of Oniscus. We took also another animal, quite different from any we had ever seen; it was of an angular figure, about three inches long and one thick, with a hollow passing quite through it; on one end was a brown spot, which might be the stomach of the animal. Four of these, the whole number that we took, adhered together when taken by their sides; so that at first we imagined them to be one animal: but upon being put into a glass of water, they very soon separated, and swam briskly about.