THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XII.] FEBRUARY, 1888. [No. J 34. 



A VISIT TO FERNANDO DO NORONHA. 

 By H. N. Ridley, M.A., F.L.S. 



On July 9th, last year, the writer and Mr. G. A. Ramage, of 

 Edinburgh, started by the Royal Mail steamer from Southampton 

 for Pernambuco, in order to explore the island of Fernando do 

 Noronha, the Brazilian penal settlement, situate nearly 200 miles 

 east of Cape San Roque. The voyage to Pernambuco occupied 

 fourteen days, the weather being very calm. Nothing of note in 

 a Natural History way occurred during the voyage, excepting the 

 appearance of a small whale in the Bay of Biscay, perhaps one 

 of the last of the Biscay Whales, Balcena biscayensis, and when 

 nearing Fernando do Noronha, which we passed at night, a Noddy, 

 Anous leucocapillus, flew on board, very wearied, and remained on 

 the ship for a day. Storm Petrels followed the vessel for a couple 

 of days after leaving Portugal, and then disappeared. On arriving 

 at Pernambuco we were met by the Rev. T. S. Lea, an enthusiastic 

 naturalist, who was to join the expedition, and there learnt 

 that the ' Giquia,' a little steamer that plies monthly between 

 Pernambuco and Fernando do Noronha, was to sail on August 

 10th. We had consequently some time to wait, and occupied the 

 interval in preparing for the expedition and in making excursions 

 in the neighbourhood of Pernambuco. These excursions would 

 have been more extensive had it not been for the irritating 

 stupidity and "red-tapism" of the Brazilian Custom House 

 officials. Under the regulations of the Custom House all books 

 and apparatus used in the exploration of any part of Brazil are 



ZOOLOGIST. FEB. 1888. E 



