Vol. 51.] THE PLEISTOCENE BEDS OP THE MALTESE ISLANDS. 49 



5. The Pleistocene Beds of the Maltese Islands. By John H„ 

 Cooke, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S. (Read November 21st, 1894.) 



[Abstract.] 



For the right understanding of the Pleistocene beds, a previous 

 knowledge of the physiography of the islands and of the earlier 

 sediments is necessary. A full description of the physiography 

 and of the character of the sediments, so far as they are necessary 

 for the understanding of the accumulations forming the subject of 

 the paper, occupies its earlier portion. Especially noticeable is the 

 absence of ordinary anticlinal and synclinal folding, and the pre- 

 dominance of monoclinal faults, which largely affect the character 

 of the surface. These faults were formed prior to the deposition of 

 the Pleistocene beds. 



The plateaux of Malta, rising to a height of 600-800 feet above 

 sea-level, occur south of the great east-and-west fault, which has a 

 downthrow to the north. They have no Pleistocene deposits upon 

 their summits. 



Three classes of superficial deposits are described : — 



I. Valley-deposits, including (a) those found on the higher slopes 

 of plains and plateaux, due to subaerial waste and rain-action, con- 

 taining land- shells and mammalian bones ; and (&) those situated 

 at the bottoms of valleys, consisting of stratified layers of water- 

 worn sand, gravel, and large pebbles, occurring in such order as to 

 show that the agents which produced them have greatly decreased 

 in intensity. 



II. Agglomerates and breccias found along coast-lines and fault- 

 terraces, always at the foot of the fault-terraces, or along the lower 

 slopes of the depressed areas : these accumulations are either sub- 

 merged or lie at the water-line. Their materials are much water- 

 worn, and land-shells are contained in many of the layers. The 

 agglomerates are in many cases distinctly stratified ; and the Author 

 concludes that the materials appear to have been swept down, 

 during heavy rainfall, into the waters of land-locked creeks. 



III. Ossiferous deposits of caves and fissures, which have been 

 described elsewhere. 



Discussion. 



The President expressed his regret at the absence of the Author. 

 Ho mentioned that Mr. Cooke, during a residence of several years, 

 had continued the researches into the geology of the Maltese Islands 

 initiated long ago by our Fellows the late Admiral Spratt, F.R.S., 

 Capt. F. W. Hutton, the Earl of Ducie, and the late Dr. Leith 

 Adams. Later the geology of Malta had attracted the notice of 

 Dr. John Murray, F.E.S.E., who was guided over the island by 

 Mr. Cooke, and had written on the subject of its geology. Doubtless 

 the cutting out of the physical features as we see them is the result 



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