^8 On certain Nezoer Deposits in Sicily, 



shells of existing species, but which are certainly not nearly so 

 abundant as in the upper beds. 



It is the opinion of Mr Hoffmann, that the nummulite and 

 hippurite limestone belongs to the period of the chalk and green 

 sand, and the marls and limestone beds to the east of the Cape 

 delle Mandre, may perhaps belong to the same formation ; but 

 I will not venture to give a decided opinion in regard to either, 

 nor in regard to the beds of clay containing salt, on the south 

 side of the principal chain. 



The limestone and dolomite mountains of the neighbourhood 

 of Palermo, and extending along part of the northern coast, are 

 certainly older than all the preceding, and therefore cannot be 

 referred to a newer period than that of the Apennine or Jura 

 limestone ; and their resemblance to this formation in the north 

 of Italy, would incline us to refer it to this, and not to any older 

 part of the series. 



Having no positive data whereby to determine the exact age 

 of the old sandstone formation, all that can be said regarding it 

 is, that it is inferior to the Apennine limestone. 



Malta. 

 Since writing the above, I have visited several parts of the 

 islands of Malta and Gozzo, and have made myself acquainted 

 with their general structure. They consist entirely of tertiary 

 rocks, closely resembling those of the south-eastern part of Si- 

 cily. The most common is a fine-grained straw-coloured lime- 

 stone^ which is often so soft as to be worn down rapidly by the 

 weather ; but, in other instances, is sufficiently hard to form an 

 excellent building stone, to which circumstance these islands 

 have been in a great measure indebted for the elegance of the 

 numerous churches and palaces which are seen in every town 

 and village. Harder and more crystalline limestones are also 

 met with, and all of them with nearly the same colour. A grey 

 marl occurs abundantly in Gozzo, and in some parts of Malta, 

 but bearing a small proportion to the limestone. The strata are 

 everywhere horizontal, or only very slightly inclined, the whole 

 appearing to have been raised up above the sea without having 

 been materially deranged. The south coasts are bold and pre- 

 cipitous ; the north coasts rise more gradually from the sea, and 



