Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1832. ABROLHOS — BIRDS 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 little 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 ainono- the bright verdure, and at a distance looked handsome ; but when seen close, it at once descended to the level of a carrion-eatinjj 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 line 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 reason ? Have the extensive shallows in their VOL, II. F