428 EAMBLES OP A NATUEALIST. [Oh. XXIV. 



pavonia). My exploration, however, was necessarily brief, as 

 I was obliged forthwith to rejoin the ship. 



A long succession of cahns, with occasional light winds 

 from the north-east, carried us so far west, and consumed 

 so much coal, that it was determined to make for the Azores, 

 and put into the port of Horta, in the island of Fayal, for 

 fresh suppKes. Accordingly, just as we had left the Sargasso 

 Sea behind, we came in sight of the islands on July 11th. 

 The first sight of the western isles from the south is very re- 

 markable ; the island immediately east of Fayal, called Pico, 

 towers up to the height of 7600 feet, and the pointed apex 

 appeared just above a belt of cloud, and seemed to reach the 

 very skies, its apparent height being greatly magnified by 

 this circumstance. All the morning, as we neared it, the 

 clouds varied but little, and the black top seemed almost to 

 overhang the ship. Nor was the island of Fayal less in- 

 teresting, although in a different way. The whole southern 

 side, gently sloping from a long ridge towards the shore, was 

 most beautifully cultivated, and mapped out into yellow fields, 

 interspersed with green patches high up the hill side ; while 

 numerous white cottages were dotted over the landscape. 

 Many parallel ravines running down the slope afforded 

 sheltered spots, in which white houses were clustered ; and 

 the whole formed a delightful picture of fertility and repose, 

 which gradually opened up new points of beauty as we came 

 nearer. 



■ Standing on the forecastle admiring this picture, I could 

 turn to the calm sea in which clusters of Salpse were swim- 

 ming, accompanied by various species of jelly-fish, while 

 flocks of sea birds sat here and there upon the water, and 

 porpoises rolled about merrily. Presently the trenchant fin 

 of a shark appeared right ahead ; and leaning over the bows, 



