90 Mr. F. Du Cane Godman on the Birds of the Azores. 



smallest of the Azores, and is very pretty ; but as we only re- 

 mained there about an houi", and anchored at a considerable 

 distance from the shore, we did not land. We next proceeded 

 to St. George's, and, passing close round under the high cliffs at 

 the west end, called at Villa das Velas, on the south side, to 

 land two or three passengers and a small amount of cargo. 



Whilst coasting along this island we observed large flocks of 

 " Cargaras,'' " Stapagados,'' " Gargas,""' and " Pombas,'' evi- 

 dently congregating for the breeding-season; and, judging from 

 the rugged and precipitous rocks they had chosen for this pur- 

 pose, I fancy they would run little risk of being disturbed. The 

 south side of St. George's rises almost perpendicularly from the 

 sea, but the inhabitants have nevertheless found sufficient space 

 on some of the ledges of the rocks to plant vineyards. To many 

 of these there is no approach from the land side, and the only 

 means of getting at them is by landing from a boat and climb- 

 ing on hands and knees up the almost perpendicular cliffs — which 

 of course can only be done in fine weather with a calm sea. 



From Villa das Velas to Horta, the capital of Fayal, is about 

 forty miles; but as we did not arrive there till past eleven 

 o'clock at night, we remained on board till next morning. Fayal 

 is a charming little island; and the view from it of Pico, with its 

 snowy top peeping out from the clouds (as we then occasionally 

 saw it), is really a grand sight. Pico is more thickly wooded 

 than most of the islands ; the volcano rises to 7600 feet in 

 height, and in the winter the extreme cone is frequently covered 

 with a thin layer of snow. Descending lower, there is first a 

 belt of cinders and but little vegetation except lichens ; lower 

 down again, the tree heath and coarse grass form another belt ; 

 while below this is a dense growth of brushwood, consisting of 

 laurustinus, faya, and other evergreen trees. This is the home 

 of the Wood-Pigeon in the Azores. In most of the other islands 

 this bird is much persecuted, on account of its being greatly es- 

 teemed for the table, and it is consequently very scarce and 

 wild ; while here it is abundant, being comparatively un- 

 disturbed. Towards the coast, at the foot of the mountain, a 

 network of walls encloses small vineyards to protect them against 

 the winds. From these vineyards was formerly made the well- 



