THE ABROLHOS EEEFS. 



161 



Between the Jequitiubonba and the Mucury, the coast is fringed at varying 

 distances by a few clusters of coralline reefs, such as the Itacolumi, and the 

 remarkable atoll encircling the Abrolhos, three granitic islets about 130 feet high. 

 Near the Abrolhos is the dangei'ous Parcel atoll, scene of many a shipwreck. In 

 these waters, some 40 square miles in extent, the coral reefs spring from the 



Fig. 63. — Abrolhos. 

 Scale 1 : 500,000. 





38'58' West oF Gr-eenwicln 



58°43 



0to5 

 Fathoms. 



Depths. 



5 to 10 



Fathoms. 



10 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



12 Miles. 



marine bed in columnar form, sometimes spreading out at top like " parasoles.'* 

 These chapeiroes, or " large hats," as they are called, stand flush with the surface 

 in depths of from 5 to 10 fathoms. They consist of innumerable many-coloured 

 branches, of such delicate texture that they are often crushed, and their shafts 

 even overturned by passing vessels, which continue their course uninjured by the 

 collision. 



