448 MR. O. SALVIN ON THE AVIFAUNA 
James, Indefatigable, and Chatham, are the next in point of dimensions; Charles, 
Hood, Bindloe, and Abingdon make up the nine chief islands of the archipelago. 
Barrington, Tower, Duncan, and J ervis are small, unimportant islands; whilst the two 
northernmost, Wenman and Culpepper, are little more than isolated rocks. The 
highest mountain in Albemarle reaches 4700 feet; and in most of the other islands the 
mountains attain a height of from 1000 to 1700 feet. The whole of the group is of 
volcanic origin; and some of the islands present surfaces little else than masses of 
scorie and vast fields of lava. ‘The most ancient signs of volcanic action are to be 
found in the more eastern islands of the group, whilst the western are still the scene of 
occasional outbursts of volcanic energy. Narborough, the most western island of all, 
is frequently in a state of violent eruption, the island itself being little more than 
one vast furnace, from which lava has issued over the entire surface. Mr. Darwin 
estimates that in the whole archipelago there are as many as 2000 craters. Travellers 
within the last century speak of having observed various eruptions on the westernmost 
islands. 
Delano witnessed an outbreak of one of the volcanos of Albemarle in 1800, and 
speaks of another which occurred in 1797. Captain Porter describes an eruption 
which took place on the same island on the 6th June, 1813. He also says that on his 
return to the islands after a visit to the continent, he remarked great changes on the 
south side of Narborough and the southern part of Albemarle, and observed four 
craters smoking on the former island and one on the latter. He also remarks that a 
volcano burst out with great fury a few hours after he left Charles Island. Captain 
Morrell, when anchored in Tagus Cove in 1825, between Narborough and Albemarle, 
witnessed a terrific eruption from Narborough. He was obliged to run from his 
anchorage and make his way southward, the temperature of the air being sometimes as 
high as 147°, that of the water 150° from the molten lava flowing into it! During the 
short visit of Lord Byron in H.M.S. ‘ Blonde,’ in 1825, one of the volcanos of Albe- 
marle was observed to be in eruption; and Captain Fitz-Roy states that the south- 
however, not be out of place to say a word respecting the different names which have been applied to some of 
the islands of the group. 
The original Spanish name for the Archipelago is so apt that no other seems ever to have been suggested for 
it. The Spaniards also bestowed names on the particular islands; but they have never become established or 
even recognized, except Redonda Rock. The names applied by Captain Cowley in 1684 are those by which 
they are chiefly known ; and most of them have been adopted in the Admiralty chart. Thus Narborough Island, 
Albemarle, James, Bindloe, Abingdon, Wenman, and Culpepper have all been recognized from Cowley’s map. 
Norfolk Island of Cowley is, I have no doubt, Indefatigable Island of the present day, Porter’s Island being 
another name for it. ‘he Charles Island of Cowley is probably the same as Chatham Island of Colnett, not 
the Charles Island cf the chart, and is perhaps the Santa Maria de la Aguada of the Spaniards. Cowley’s 
Eures Island is probably Tower Island; Cowley’s Crossman’s Island and Brattle’s Island are perhaps Hood 
and Charles Islands, though these names haye been applied to two clusters of rocks off the south-eastern shore 
of Albemarle. Dean’s Island may be Duncan Island of Colnett, Downes Island of Porter. 
