1832. ABROLHOS — BIllDS FISH. 65 



depth of water ; and next morning, moved to a better berth 

 at the west side, very near them. They are rather low, but 

 covered with grass, and there is a Httle scattered brushwood. 

 The highest point rises to about a hundred feet above the 

 sea. Their geological formation, Mr. Darwin told me, is of 

 gneiss and sandstone, in horizontal strata. When our boats 

 landed, immense flights of birds rose simultaneously, and 

 darkened the air. It was the breeding and moulting season ; 

 nests full of eggs, or young unfledged birds, absolutely covered 

 the ground, and in a very short time our boats were laden with 

 their contents. 



A large black bird, with a pouch like that of a pelican, but 

 of a bright red colour, was very remarkable, as it hovered, or 

 darted among the bright verdure, and at a distance looked 

 handsome ; but when seen close, it at once descended to the 

 level of a carrion-eating cormorant or buzzard. 



Turtle are to be found at times : we observed the shell and 

 skeleton of an extremely large one lying on a sandy spot at 

 the north side of the northern islet. Some very tine fish, of the 

 cod kind, were caught ; one was so large, that, until hauled 

 on board, it was supposed to be a shark. The anchorage is 

 good, and easy of access: all swell is stopped by the shal- 

 low places, and by the islets themselves. There is no fresh 

 water. 



If a general reader should honour these pages by his 

 perusal, and find such details about wood, water, fish, birds, 

 &c., at places about which few know, and still fewer care — 

 extremely tiresome, he will of course pass them over; but, 

 in my own exculpation, I must beg to be permitted to remind 

 him that the Beagle was employed by Government, to obtain 

 practical information likely to be useful to shipping ; and that 

 I might neglect my duty by omitting to mention such matters, 

 when speaking of places which are seldom visited, and hitherto 

 but slightly known. 



By those employed in the coasting trade, the Abrolhos 

 are said to be particularly subject to squalls. If this be true, 

 what is the reavson ? Have the extensive shallows in their 



VOL. II. F 



