12 



numerous molluscs, cuttle fish, barnacles, and marine 

 plants. 



The lower or semi-crystalline limestone (I), is 

 of a greyish colour, and on the S. and N. W. coasts 

 of Gozo shews nearly 400 feet of perpendicular depth. 

 It, in common with the harder varieties of the Up- 

 per Limestone is known as Gozo marble and Malta 

 granite. It is extensively quarried for building pur- 

 poses in the neighbourhood of Musta, and on the 

 denuded flat to the W. of Valletta. 



All along the southern shores of tho islands, 

 this formation is gradually yielding to the disin- 

 tegrating influence of the Sirocco blast, and the 

 ever-beating surf. 



The Lower Limestone can be easily studied be- 

 tween Fort Ricasoli and the Zoncor Tower, whilst 

 inland it may be traced in the Wied Incita, near 

 the Lunatic Asylum, in the ueighbourhood of Musta, 

 and below Gargur. 



Fossils are abundant, but owing to the hard- 

 ness of the rock perfect specimens are detached with 

 difficulty. The saucer shaped urchin, an organism 

 resembling fossil leaves, sharks' teeth, whales' bones, 

 oyster shells, claws of swimming crabs, burrowing 

 sponges, &c., are amongst those most frequently met 

 with. Nine species of shark formerly inhabited 

 these waters, the teeth of some of them being 7 

 inches long ! 



