Fernando De Noronha, a group of small islands in the Atlantic ocean, belonging to Brazil, situated about 210 m. N. E. of Cape St. Roque; lat. of S. E. extremity of the principal island, 3° 50' 8., lon. 32° 28' W. The shores are rocky, and difficult of access on account of the violence of the surf. The largest island, which gives the name to the group, is about 2o m. in circumference. In it is a conical mountain about 1,000 ft. high, the upper part of which is very steep, and on one side overhangs its base. It is composed of phonolitic rock, which has been severed into irregular columns. The island is covered with wood, but such is the aridity of its climate, there being sometimes no rain for two years, that vegetable production is very limited. It contains two harbors, and the coasts abound with fish. It is used as a place of banishment by Brazil, whose government maintains a garrison there to prevent the escape of criminals. No woman is permitted to land on it. Another of these islands is about 1 m. square, and the rest are mere rocky islets, separated from the main islands by very narrow channels.