384 Mr. M. Cameron and Dr. A. C. Gatto’s List of 
regard to the flora and fauna all these islands bear a great 
affinity to the Maltese group, but, as may be supposed, the 
productions of the latter are even more allied to those of 
Sicily. As a matter of fact, the Maltese Islands, in their 
general appearance, are very much like the southern part 
of Sicily and the country about Syracuse, the only difference 
being the greater flatness of the land in Malta, and the 
want of trees and water-courses. 
The climate, as lately well described by Mr. T. B. 
Fletcher, R.N., F.E.S.,! may be divided roughly into a wet 
and a dry season, the former beginning in October and 
ending in March, the latter including the remaining 
months. Showers of rain occur also in April, May, and 
September, but in June, July, and August they are much 
rarer. The average rainfall is over 20 inches, and the 
mean annual temperature is 65°6° Fahy. 
The appearance of the islands in summer is extremely 
sterile and barren, mainly because, even where the soil is 
cultivated, the small fields are enclosed by numberless 
stone walls of loose stones, and the rocky wastes are 
almost devoid of all vegetation. The heat is then almost 
tropical, the temperature ranging from 75° to 90° in the 
shade. 
In Malta there are no mountains, rivers, or marshes. 
The highest point in the islands is 758 feet above sea-level ; 
the limestone cliffs on the west and south very often rise” 
abruptly from the sea to a height of 300 or 400 feet. In 
Malta the land slopes gradually on the east to the water 
edge, forming numerous bays and harbours, and drops 
suddenly on the other side by a large “ fault,” which crosses 
the island from end to end at right angles to its long axis. 
The place of rivers is taken by deep valleys, called 
“ Wieds” in the Maltese language; and in these “ wieds” 
during the rainy season water runs at the bottom, and pools 
of water may be found even afterwards, but in summer 
they are perfectly dry. 
Some of these valleys, particularly those which are less 
cultivated, are very good collecting-grounds, and in the 
proper season trips to such valleys as L’Imtahlep, Jneina, 
Inquisitor’s Palace, Bishop’s Garden, Ta Baldu, Encita, 
Babu, El Ghasel, in Malta, and Migiarro, Xlendi, Ducira, 
in Gozo, besides affording a good harvest in insects and 
plants, are always very interesting and pleasant excursions. 
1 “Entomologist,” vol. xxxvil, pp. 274-5. 
