BRANNER: THE STONE REEFS OF BRAZIL. 221 
He thinks it probably belongs to the same series of formations as the 
sand reef of Pernambuco, and “is the only example known of the eleva- 
tion of such materials.” This bank is three hundred metres long and 
rises four metres above the shore, falling away gradually both north and 
south, The lower three metres of this beach are consolidated, and on this 
rests a black sandy soil filled with shellfish and containing human re- 
mains. The bottom half of the beach is of corals and water-worn shells 
mixed with sand and small pebbles. In places it has enough lime in it 
to allow of its being burnt for lime. “ This part of the beach resembles 
in structure and hardness the consolidated beaches east of the Bahia 
lighthouse. The hardening seems to have gone on more rapidly at 
some levels than at others.” He regards the Porto Santo deposit as 
very superficial and recent; the shells and corals in it are all recent. 
Reclus, Blisée. Nouvelle géographie universelle. La Terre et les 
hommes. Tom. XIX. Amérique du sud: l'Amazonie et la Plata 
etc. Paris, 1894, p. 222-223; 244. 
He says there is a line of reefs extending from the mouth of the Par- 
ahyba to that of Rio Säo Francisco, some of them of coral and others, 
like that of Pernambuco, of a different origin. “ There is probably not 
in the world а formation that has more the appearance of having been ` 
built by the hand of man.” It is stated to have a width of from thirty 
to sixty metres, to be flat on top, and uncovered at low tide. The rock 
is said to be of a compact sandstone “in which it is difficult to distin- 
guish the bedding.” Не thinks the material was probably a line of 
dunes, hardened by time. 
He states that Agassiz thought the reef was a terminal moraine, but 
makes no reference to the publication of this opinion. 
Opposite p. 480 is a fine wood engraving of the Pernambuco reef, the 
“view being taken from the lighthouse at its northern end ; and on p. 245 
is a map of Pernambuco showing part of the reef. 
Rolt., A new and accurate history of South America. . . . By Mr. 
Rolt. London, 1756, p. 546. 
“The port of Arracife, opposite the town of Pernambuco, is so called 
from its situation among a ridge of rocks, or sands ; and the harbor of 
Pernambuco, or rather Infernoboco, the mouth of hell, was so named by 
the Portuguese, on account of the rocks and shoals, under water, at its 
entrance.” A similar explanation of “ Pernambuck" is offered by 
Arnoldus Montanus in his Unbekante Neue Welt, р. 434. It should be 
noted that this explanation of the word Pernambuco is not correct. 
