Ch. XXIV.] AZOEES. 429 



I watched him swimming hither and thither, tmtil he was 

 nearly under the cut-water, when, to my delight, I observed 

 it to be a large shark of the hammer-headed species (Zygaena 

 malleus), twelve or fourteen feet long. "While he was fuUy 

 in view he suddenly darted off out of danger ; but his fin 

 could be seen for some time after on the quarter. 



As we rounded the east side of Fayal to enter Horta Bay 

 we passed two great shapeless rocks, one of a dark brown 

 and the other red, which showed the volcanic structure of 

 the island ; for all this fertiUty and verdure cover an extract 

 volcano, and even yet shocks of earthquake are not un- 

 frequent. It was Hke the cloven hoof peeping out from 

 under a gorgeous robe ; but even one of these rocks was 

 terraced with viues on the landward side. 



The Villa de Horta is a charmiagly situated place, and 

 looks extremely pretty from any poiat, set as it is against a 

 background of highly cultivated fields and hills ; while the 

 majestic mountain of Pico, on the other side of the bay, 

 forms a fine object from the landward. When disencumbered 

 of clouds, however, it did not appear nearly so lofty as when 

 we first saw it. Small craters may be seen upon its sloping 

 sides, as well as some cultivation and a few white houses ; 

 but it is said that the great cone occasionally smokes. Only 

 a week or two before my visit a small island was thrown up 

 in the sea near St. Michael by volcanic agency.* 



* During the past year the Azores have been the theatre of unusual volcanic 

 excitement, extending from December 1866 to August 1867. On May 25th 

 last, between half-past two and midnight, there were experienced no less than 

 fifty-seven distinct shocks of earthquake. Five days later the ground was in 

 constant motion — and on the 1st of June there was a violent earthquake and 

 volcanic eruption, the day after which the sea was covered with a layer of 

 sulphur — the water appeared to boil, and jets were thrown up. On the 4th of 

 June sulphuretted hydrogen fumes were given out ; there was an earthquake 



