Deep in the Atlantic new islands are forming, very slowly, alongside the ancient peaks of the Azores. Some of these emerging islands now reach to just below the surface - the grinding of the continental plates can almost be heard. On land, many areas are covered by dense green vegetation interspersed with towering volcanoes. The landscape resembles a sleeping dragon - the steam that rises from thermal pools and caves carved by hot streams of lava is the dragon's breath. But how did the jungle find its way on to the inhospitable rocks, long before the arrival of humans? The answer is birds. Species from Europe and America arrived here carrying seeds. For shearwaters with their exceptional diving skills the sea around the islands is an ideal food source, and the birds have chosen the Azores as their breeding colony. But it was the common pigeon that brought the seeds of the largest trees. They are in some ways the founders of the islands. And the most common creatures on the Azores are spiders! Around them, fol