228 MR. BUSK ON THE REMAINS OF 
was of gigantic size (Myorus melitensis, Falc.), and, together with these, numerous 
remains of a land Tortoise, not as yet fully determined. 
It should be mentioned also that, in several other localities in the island, caverns of 
asimilar character have been discovered, containing chiefly bones of one or more species 
of Hippopotamus unmixed with those of the Elephant, and regarded by Captain Spratt, 
for certain geological reasons, as having been introduced into the caverns and fissures at 
a somewhat earlier period than those of the proboscidian pachyderm. 
The occurrence of such abundant remains of large herbivorous mammals in so 
limited a spot as the present Island of Malta, taken in conjunction with other consi- 
derations of a geographical or, rather, hydrographical nature noticed by Captain Spratt, 
indicates beyond all doubt a former connexion of a very close nature with the African 
continent, and also points to the former existence in the site of the Maltese Islands 
of extensive currents of fresh water. It consequently becomes an extremely in- 
teresting problem to determine, with as much accuracy as the materials will allow, 
the zoological relations of these quaternary pachyderms to those at present existing, 
and also to those which have either been contemporary with them in other parts, or 
may have preceded them in order of time in the Mediterranean region. 
The latter question, however, is one of such great magnitude, and so much more 
purely of palzontological interest, that, even were I able to do it justice, which is wholly 
out of my power, I should not here attempt to enter upon it—leaving its solution 
to more competent hands, to whom the present paper may, perhaps, be of some 
assistance. 
With respect to the other extinct animals associated with the Maltese Elephants in 
the Zebbug cavern, I am happy to say that the determination of the birds, and more 
especially the description of Cygnus falconeri, has been undertaken by Mr. W. K. 
Parker, F.R.S., whilst there is reason to hope, from a letter from Dr. Leith Adams 
which I find amongst Dr. Falconer’s notes, that the Gigantic Dormouse will find an 
able historian in him, who has met with the remains of that genus in extreme abun- 
dance in other localities in the island, in the exploration of which he is at present 
engaged, with the promise of the most fruitful results *. 
Captain Spratt’s valuable collections were originally committed by him to Dr. 
Falconer, whose irreparable loss we recently had so deeply to deplore; and a short 
notice respecting them was given, by him and Captain Spratt, to the Geological 
Section of the British Association, at the Cambridge Meeting in 1862. In this commu- 
nication (a mere notice only of which appears in the published volume of Reports), Dr. 
Falconer announced the discovery, among these remains, of those of a diminutive or 
‘“pigmy ” species of Elephant, for which he proposed the name of Elephas melitensis. 
* The account of the Gigantic Fossil Dormouse, which was anticipated at the time this paper was read, has 
since been furnished by Dr, Leith Adams, and is given below, p. 307. That of Cygnus falconeri is already pub- 
lished, anted, p- 119, 
