15 



follow fche course of the dip of the strata. Among the 

 Bengemma Hills lie the valleys of Boschetto and 

 Emtahleb, wlr.ch are noted for their picturesque 

 scenery and also for their fertility. Their productiveness 

 is owing to the springs which break out at the 

 outcrop of the blue clay, in consequence of its 

 retaining the moisture which falls on the porous 

 substance of the superincumbent coral limestone and 

 yellow sandstone. There are no springs in Malta 

 and Gozo but where there is clay to retain the 

 water. " The washing away of the mari would 

 therefore make Malta a mere arid rock and deprive 

 Valletta of its supply of water. 



From the numerous and interesting remains of 

 hippopotami, elephants, fresh-water tortoises etc. 

 found in these islands, and also from other evidence 

 it seems probable that Africa, Malta, and Italy were 

 formerly united and that the now submerged dis- 

 trict was covered with a varied and extensive 

 flora. Herds of both larger and pigmy elephants the 

 latter being 3 feet, 4 feet 7 inches, and 7 feet in 

 height roamed the land. Dr. Adams and Sig. Caruana 

 have found skeletons or teeth of hundreds of these ani- 

 mals near Benghisa Tower, near Fort Ricasoli, at Zeb- 

 bug, Crendi, the Mnaidra Gap, the Malak and Melleha 

 caves, and other places. 



The Hippopotamus Pentlandi has left his bones 

 at Melleha, Malak, and elsewhere. Abundant wild-fowl 

 covered the lakes and lagoons, one of which the 



