24 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
In 1843 the late Admiral (then Captain) Spratt 
commenced a series of investigations, which were 
conducted with such success, that the attention of 
several eminent scientists was drawn to the 
strata of the islands, and the stratigraphy and 
paleontology formed the subjects of several papers 
that appeared in the geological magazines of their 
times. (1) 
Since then many new facts have come to light, 
the recording of which is necessary if the chain of 
evidences in the geological history of the Islands 
would be made complete. 
My four years residence in Malta has given me 
an opportunity of not only examining those that 
have been recorded by other observers, but it has 
also enabled me to undertake a systematic exa- 
mination of the island’s geology, the result of 
which has been the discovery of several new and 
and interesting evidences bearing on their former 
physical history. 
In the following papers I propose to give a brief 
account of these phenomena, and at the same time 
to add such other particulars relating to Maltese 
geology as will enable those interested in the 
subject to form a fair estimate of the present 
stage of the enquiry. * * 
The group, known as the Maltese Islands, con 
sists of the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino, 
together with several barren, rocky islets of 
varying sizes, the principal of which are Filfola, 
and Cominotto 
They are situated in the Mediterranean at a 
distance of 60 miles to the south of Sicily, and 200 
miles to the north of Cape Calipia, the nearest 
point in Africa. 
On the north they are connected with Sicily by 
means of a sub-aequous plateau, the depth of 
submergence of which does not exceed 70 fathoms 
in any part; while to the south, a deep channel 
having an average depth of 230 fathoms, and 
(1) See Proc. Geol. See. 184$, 185 A, 1855 , 1860 , 
1862, 1863 , 1864, 1865, 1866 , 1867, 1868 , 1869, 1870. 
* The following should be read in conjuctim 
with these papers : — 
1. Pamphlet of the “ Geology of Malta!'’ by Capt. 
Spratt , R. N. 185f 
2. u Notes on the Nile Valley and Malta,” by 
Dr. Leith Adams 1870. 
3. “ The Maltese Islands with special reference 
to their geological structure” from the Scottish Geo- 
graphical Magazine , by Dr, J. Murray , Sept. 1890. 
which is 190 miles long and from 60 to 100 miles 
wide, forms a natural boundary between them 
and Africa. 
Malta is the principal island of the group both 
in size and commercial importance. Its greatest 
length measured from the Marfa to Marsa Sirocco 
is 17 miles, and its greatest breadth is 10 miles. 
Though less fertile than the sister island of Gozo, 
its population is nearly eight times as numerous. 
The causes that have given rise to this curious 
anomaly will be the more readily understood 
after a consideration of the distribution of the 
strata, and of their peculiar characteristics. 
At the present time there appears to be some 
uncertainly as to which division of geological time- 
the Maltese strata properly belong. 
Spratt(l), and Adams(8) considered them asbeing 
of Miocene Age; but Jones(3) considered them as 
belonging to the Eocene. Fuchs, (4) the Austrian 
I geologist, on the other hand refers the upper for- 
! mations to the Miocene, and the lowest formation 
of the series to the Oligocene. Dr. John Murray, (5) 
while agreeing with the Fuchsian theory, points 
out the fact that a striking analogy exists between 
the microscopic sections of the Malta Globigerina 
limestones, and the sections of the Pliocene rocks 
of Sicily. 
From several comparisons that I have 
made of the Malta Globigerina rock with the 
“Pietra Leccese” of Italy, and of the Malta marls 
with the clays from San Ruffillo near Bologna; 
and from a careful consideration of the evidences 
that have been adduced by other students of the 
strata, I am inclined to believe that the Fuchsian 
theory approximates more nearly to the truth 
than either of the others. Paleontologically the 
Maltese strata offer strong resemblances to the 
Miocene beds of Tournay and Brittany(4), to the 
Black Crag of Belgium, to the Miocene forma- 
tions of the Vienna Basin, to those of Dego, Cal- 
(1) “On the Geology of Malta and Gozo ’ by T. 
Spratt. Valletta 1854. 
(2) “ Malta & the Nile Valley ' A. L. Adams. 
Edinburgh , 1870. ' 
(3) “Fossil for aminif era of Malta ' T. R. Jones. 
Geologist vol. VII. 1864. 
(4) “Das alter d.er Tertiarsckichten von Malta ” 
Th. Fuchs. Sitr. d. K. K. A had. der. JF?ss. Wien. 
Ed. vol. XXII. p. 67. 
(5) “The Maltese Islands” John Murray, Scot. 
Geog . Mag. Sept. 1890 , 
