CHAPTER II. 



FERNANDO DE NORONHA. 



On 20th December, 1902, the island of Fernando 

 de Noronha was sighted, and at 4 p.m. we dropped 

 anchor off the settlement. 



On the island is a Brazilian convict settlement, 

 and permission to land is by no means easy to 

 obtain. The " Challenger " Expedition was not 

 allowed to make collections there, and Mr. Ridley, 

 who visited the island in 1887, was, previously to 

 our visit, the only naturalist who had collected 

 with any thoroughness. Of the three species of 

 land-birds which he obtained, two proved to be 

 new to science. 



It was therefore a matter of great satisfaction 

 that, by the courtesy of the Governor of the 

 island, we were allowed to land and make natural 

 history collections, and not only that, but were 

 also generously provided with guides and 

 horses. 



The most remarkable physical feature of 

 Fernando de Noronha is a gigantic column of 

 rock standing erect on the highest peak. This 



