462 REPORT— 1866. 



vertebrae from Mnaidra Gap slightly exceed those of the above. Allo'wing, 

 therefore, for discrepancies as to size of the tusks, it is apparent that the 

 owners of the above teeth and bones were not markedly diminntive species 

 compared with any living or fossil elephant. The question, however, whether 

 more than one species is represented by the remains in the Maltese 

 deposits deserves the fullest attention, from the able remarks read by Pro- 

 fessor Busk in a paper read before the Zoological Society of London with re- 

 ference to the Zebbug cave-deposits, none of which I have had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining, vsdth the exception of one molar ; and that I have found 

 equal to one of the intermediate teeth of the species here referred to. 



The dentition of the Maltese fossil elephant as observed by me furnishes 

 characters similar to the Loxodon group, whilst the crown-pattern resembles 

 closely that of Ehphas antiquus. The teeth, however, are relatively much 

 smaller, and present a different ridge-formula, which, from the extensive and 

 varied materials I have examined, appears to me, exclusive of talons, to stand 



Milk-Molars. True Molars. 



3 H- 7 -4- 9 10 -^ 11 ^ 13 



3-h7-^9 10^11-i- 13-14 



Remains of birds were very common in nearly all the localities, and em- 

 braced various species. Baptores of large dimensions were represented by 

 foot- and wing-bones from Mnaidra Gaj), Avhere likewise, as before stated, 

 water-birds, including gigantic Graihe and Anseres, were plentiful. The 

 presence of a very large river-tortoise was repeatedly confu-med by the dis- 

 covery of heads of femurs and other portions of the skeleton ; and besides the 

 testacea enumerated in my last Report, I have found associated with the ele- 

 phants' teeth and bones several specimens of a recent shell (HcUm sj3mtii) 

 hitherto only met with in the Maltese Islands, From a digest of aU the 

 evidences deducible from the geological stnicture and fossil fauna enumerated 

 in this and the previous Report, it may be inferred that the old Miocene for- 

 mation, of which the Maltese group are composed, underwent subsequently 

 extensive upheavals, and formed a considerable tract of land, tenanted by 

 vast herds of Hippopotami, elephants, and other quadrupeds, together with 

 birds and reptiles, almost specifically distinct from any species yet found else- 

 wliere, and at a time when the land testacea were identical with those now 

 inhabiting the islands, — that at a subsequent period the whole, or at least by 

 far the greater portion of this area, was again submerged under the sea, and 

 reelevated at a still later period, when, after various oscillations of level, 

 the subterranean movements ceased, leaving the present insular fragments. 

 The extent or direction of the ancient post-miocene land is at present a 

 matter of mere speculation ; but no doubt the obscurity hanging over the 

 subject will in time be dissipated, when the shores and other islands of the 

 great inland sea come to be carefully explored, especially Sicily, Candia, and 

 the Eastern Archipelago, also the western portions of the Mediterranean, 

 which promise rich stores, as has already been demonstrated by the wonderful 

 discoveries made by Captain Brome in the caverns and fissures of Gibraltar. 



I have in this and the previous Report attempted to lay before the Members 

 of the Geological Section a cursory account of my researches in the caves, 

 fissures, and alluvial deposits of the Maltese Islands ; and now that I have 

 finished my task, and been compelled by unavoidable circumstances to relin- 

 quish my labours, I cannot but here humbly express my high admiration of 

 the encouragement I have received from the Members of the British Associa- 

 tion. No doubt much yet remains to be done in the field of my late labours. 

 I opine, however, that the data furnished by the splendid collection of ele- 



