8 MR. H. N. EIDLET ON THE 



Some geographers seem to have been doubtful as to what this 

 island described by Vespucci was, and several other islands 

 were suggested, including the mythical St. Matthew's Isle and 

 St. Paul's Eocks ; but the position assigned by A^'espucci, and the 

 presence of abundant fresh water and trees, negative this sug- 

 gestion. Humboldt and most other geographers, however, seem 

 to agree that this island was certainly Fernando Noronha. 



There are several very interesting points in the account quoted 

 above. First, the author merely mentions one island. Now, 

 without doubt the whole chain was connected at one time, but 

 whether or not it was so when Vespucci discovered it must 

 remain doubtful. The wrecked ship Avas lost probably off Rat 

 Island, the first point that they would come to ; and if Vespucci 

 anchored in San Antonio Bay, on the north side, which is the 

 nearest good anchorage, he would, as he says he wa.s, be unable 

 to see the rest of the fleet, owing to the high ground of Rat Island 

 between him and it. His description of the trees and innu- 

 merable birds is evidently correct, though most of the trees are 

 destroyed, and the birds far less abundant than they were then. 

 The lizards with two tails may have been a confusion of the 

 very abundant and conspicuous Grecko with the A^nphisbcena, 

 which is often called the snake with two heads, or may have been 

 suggested by finding an accidentally fork-tailed lizard, an example 

 of which monstrosity was obtained by our expedition. The 

 serpents were doubtless the Amphislcdna. But the large rats 

 are much less easy to explain ; at present the only rats occurring 

 on the island are Mus ^'affi/s, the common introduced black rat. 

 It is impossible that the animals seen by Vespucci could have been 

 this species, which could not at that time have been introduced. 

 Is it not probable that there was formerly an indigenous rat-like 

 mammal, exterminated by the introduction of the black rat ? "We 

 could find no tradition even of this big rat, and I fear it is quite 

 extinct. The only hope of recovering its remains lies in the 

 guano deposits of Rat Island, where its bones might be pre- 

 served. 



Oeigijt of the Floea. 



Before suggesting an origin or origins of the present Flora of 

 the group, it must first be pointed out that there is no evidence 

 whatever to show a former connection with the mainland of Brazil 

 at any time, in spite of what has been asserted by Dr. Rattray 



