228 MB. BUSK OX THE EEMALXS OF 



was of gigantic size {Myoxus 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 

 a similar character ha-\e 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 Assures at 

 a somewhat earlier period than those of the proboscidian pachyderm. 



The occurrence of such abundant remains of large herbi\orous 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 palseontological 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 Ci/gtius falconcn, has been undertaken by Mr. W. K. 

 Parker, F.E.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 Eeports), 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 tlie 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 C iiynvs falcone i-i is already pub- 

 lished, aitteii, p. 119. 



