FERNANDO NORONHA. 
41 
counted by thousands, and when rising in the air they form a perfect cloud of moving pinions. 
They belong chiefly to two species—the "booby” and the "noddy;” and, as they are seldom 
disturbed by their fellow-biped “ man,” are without 
fear, scarcely, indeed, move out of the way of an 
intruder. The crabs are more timid or more wary, 
and at our approach hastily flung themselves down 
the crevices, their shelly armour rattling against the 
rocks. The sea all around swarmed with fish, 
amongst which sharks were conspicuous. Besides 
the additions we were able to make to the fauna 
of St. Paul Rocks as already known, the soundings of the “ Challenger ” have thrown some 
light upon the physical structure of this interesting spot. St. Paul Rocks form the summit 
of a mountain which rises abruptly from a depth of about two miles. The foundation of this 
mountain is a submarine plateau which, after running eastwards along the Equator, turns 
south and connects itself with Ascension Island. The steep incline of the mountain may be 
BIRDS AT ST. PAUL ROCKS. 
ST. PAUL ROCKS. 
guessed from the fact that, while the ship was secured to the rocks about seventy yards 
distant, the soundings at her bows gave one hundred and four fathoms. There is always a 
strong current from the east, and the waves as they dash in between the rocks fall in 
foaming cascades into the central basin. When we landed, the sun was just setting behind the 
ship, and as it went down into the sea, a flaming disc, threw wonderful tints of rose-colour 
on the wild fantastic scene. 
FERNANDO NORONHA. 
The Equator was crossed for the first time, near the meridian of 30° W. long., in the 
course of August 30th, and a short run of two days brought us, on the morning of September 
1st, in sight of the island of Fernando Noronha. The enormous boulder which, rising to a height 
of 1000 feet above the sea, forms the most elevated point, could be made out from a great 
distance, while the general aspect of the island, with several other peaks and conical hills 
scattered over its surface, is very singular. Dr. Darwin, who visited this place on February 
20th, 1832, ascribes the "formation of this great boulder to an injection of melted rock into 
