THE NATUEAL SiSTOET OF CTPErS. 389 



to the period of tlie oolite (Jura). Other limestones, also liigUy 

 inclined and often dolomitic, are occasionally coralliferous. The 

 coralline remains are, however, imperfect; but from their study, 

 Professor Eeuss has inferred that the rock in which they are con- 

 tained belongs to the chalk, or more probably, to the upper Jura. 

 Highly inclined sandstones and slates, non-fossiliferous, rest upon 

 these and a considerable portion of the lower slopes of the hills, as 

 well as a large part of the central plain consists of gypsum containing 

 marl, also in highly inclined strata. These are, unfortunately, in gene- 

 ral without organic remains, a single valve of a Cythercea having been 

 the only fossil found, but they are certainly tertiary. The rest of 

 the central plain and the lower coast deposits, consist mainly of very 

 recent tertiary marls, sandstones and conglomerates, horizontal, or 

 nearly so, and quite unconformable to the older marls below. The 

 highest of these beds is about 600 feet above the sea-level. They 

 are occasionally fossiliferous, and in one locality, near Larnaka, a 

 large collection chiefly of Foraminifera and shells was obtained, of 

 which a list is given. Only four of the shells are not recent. The 

 Foraminifera are remarkable for the predominance of MiliolidaR, 

 agreeing in this respect with beds of corresponding age in Ehodes. 



The climate of Cyprus is, on the whole, drier than one would 

 expect from its insular situation, and the elevation of its mountains. 

 The winter months of October, November, and December, are the 

 period of rain, which lasts sometimes 30 or 40 days with little inter- 

 mission. The spring months are dry, with occasional showers on 

 the mountains, the latest noted being on the llth of May. The rest of 

 the year is absolutely dry, and the sun shines on the parched ground 

 from a cloudless blue sky. The rivers, which during the winter 

 rains overflow their banks, begin to dry up in spring, and in summer 

 and autumn almost or altogether disappear. In some seasons the 

 winter rain is considerably less, and occasionally there is no rainfall 

 for a whole year, in which case the sufi'erings of the people, severe 

 enough in ordinary years, become excessive. Once, about the time 

 of Constantino, it is recorded that no rain feU for 36 years, by the 

 end of which time almost all the inliabitants had perished. 



In the low country the winter temperature rarely falls to freez- 

 ing, and after the rain ceases the weather soon becomes warm. On 

 the mountains snow falls in winter, and on the summit of Troodos 

 it remains in some quantity in sheltered spots as late as the middle 

 of May, after which time it rapidly disappears. Early in that month 



