74 A NATURALIST ON THE "CHALLENGER." 



Cape Verde Islands. The only seaweeds, however, growing in 

 these pools were encrnsting nullipores (Corallinacece). 



Numerous Cavalli had been caught by the men fishing from 

 off the rocks in the morning. Lieutenant Aldrich started fishing 

 for them with a salmon rod and tackle. The fish fought for the 

 bait, racing after it as it was drawn along the top of the water 

 in the small bay. One could pick out the largest fish in the 

 shoal and manoeuvre the bait with the rod, so as to prevent any 

 but that one taking it. The fish showed fine sport, and I broke my 

 salmon rod over one of them in trying how hard I could give him 

 the butt ; we played them until tired out, and then gaffed them. 



The Cavalli bite best in the early morning and at night ; at 

 noon and in the afternoon they seem to cease feeding, and as 

 soon as they leave the field open, shoals of trigger-fish (Balistes), 

 a species of a sooty black colour with a blue streak along the 

 base of the anal and posterior dorsal fins, appear on the scene, 

 and rush at the baits and soon clear the hooks, being nearly safe 

 from being hooked because of the smallness of their mouths. 

 These fish are quite fearless and are small, weighing only about 

 one pound, and of no use for food. 



With these fish appears a bright red and green Wrasse 

 (Labrus), and a small blue Choetodon with dark stripes. Three 

 other fish which I saw caught were a Barracuda pike (Sphyrcena 

 barracuda), a yellow eel with black spots (Murcena), and a red 

 Beryx. A Eock-lobster, a small Palinurus, is very common about 

 the rocks, and is to be seen clinging to the rock, having crawled 

 just above the reach of the waves. I caught some of these in 

 lobster pots which I set for them. 



Late in the afternoon I had to procure three boobies for 

 stuffing They are by no means so foolish as their name would 

 imply. They had learnt by experience, even in a day, and I now 

 had considerable difficulty in getting within shot of the old birds. 



I climbed the highest peak, which is 64 feet above sea level ; 

 the top affords only just standing room ; from it one sees the 

 whole of the rocks, and their smallness in size is most striking ; 

 here is an island group 540 miles distant from the nearest 

 mainland, and yet not nearly so large as, say, the Holmes in the 

 Bristol Channel. 



