20 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



We once landed in a catamaran, and all of us got 

 ashore with no more than wet feet. In Brazil 

 we frequently landed through surf in the same 

 way, though the catamarans there are larger and 

 are propelled by two natives. 



Our time ashore on this second day was limited, 

 and we did not get very far beyond the settlement. 

 Major Wilbraham and I walked for some distance 

 along the shore, and saw the same species of birds 

 as at Saint Paul's Rocks, but we noticed that 

 the turnstone appeared to be quite numerous. 



There are, I believe, two species of lizards 

 on the island, but we only saw one of them. This 

 was Mdbuia punctata, and it seemed to be a most 

 abundant species on every part of the island. 



As we had many other interesting places to see, 

 our stay on Fernando de Noronha was of necessity 

 very short, and after two days we set sail for 

 Bahia, in Brazil. It is probable that in a few 

 years' time Fernando de Noronha will cease to 

 exist as a convict settlement. We were informed 

 that as capital punishment had taken the place of 

 exportation for life in Brazil, no more convicts 

 were to be sent there. 



