THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
105 
There are however, many deductions to be made 
such as the absorptive nature of the Globigeri'na 
limestone that occurs as the surface deposit of 
upwards of two-thirds of the total area of Malta 
and Gozo, and which is capable of absorbing and 
retaining about one sixth of its own weight of 
water; the water that is lost by evaporation, 
and by fissures in the valley beds; the torrents 
that form immediately after the storm, and which 
rush onwards to the sea with the boiling, eddying 
storm waters that have been collected from the 
surrounding slopes; and the absorptive power of 
the vegetation in the fertile parts of the islands. 
But large quantities find their way into the 
underground natural reservoirs that have been 
formed in the limestones, while greater quantities 
still are retained, at the surface of the marl bed 
which lies interstratified between the two great 
limestone beds of the island. 
The water supply of the island might-therefore 
be almost considered as being inexhaustible. 
Another most important factor in influencing 
the climate of the Islands is the distribution of 
the winds. The absolute force of the wind on an 
average is never great, though the islands are 
occasionally visited by storms of considerable 
fury. From the measurements, as recorded by 
the instruments at the meteorological station of 
St. Ignatius’s college, it is shown that the greatest 
absolute force is generally attained in January 
and December, during which months north-wes- 
terly winds prevail. In September, October, and 
November there is a preponderance of wind from 
the south-east, and it is to its debilitating effects 
that the adverse opinions, that are occasionally 
passed upon the climate of Malta and its depen- 
dencies, are to be attributed — opinions that are 
often largely influenced by the particular state of 
the individual’s constitution. 
This wind, which is called the Sirocco, blows 
directly from the dry, arid plains of Africa, and, 
though its enervating heat is considerably modi- 
fied by the passage across the waters of the Medi- 
terranean, yet it arrives on these shores, ladened 
wAh moisture, and, by overshadowing the islands 
with a dull, lea.de n-hued canopy of clouds, and by 
depositing its clammy moisture upon everything 
whith which it comes in contact, it gives the inha- 
bitants unequivocal proofs of its presence. 
It acts prejudicially upon the constitutions of 
natives and foreigners alike; but it varies in the 
degree in which it affects differently constituted 
individuals. It generally gives rise to a feeling of 
lassitude, and is often accompanied by dispepsia 
of an acute form. It has its commercial drawbacks 
too. Whilst it prevails, many trades have to be 
in part suspended. Neither paint, nor glue will 
then set ; and wood quickly warps and splits. 
The usual period for which it lasts is three days; 
but during the months of September, and October 
it often blows uninterruptedly for a whole week. 
The struggle for pre-eminence that takes place 
between this wind and the north-easterly winds, 
which are known as “Gregale,” generally leads to 
thunderstorms during the course of which light- 
ning plays in the sky with extreme frequency and 
brilliancy. 
The rainy season is usually ushered in about 
the time in the Autumnal equinox by a “Gregale.” 
In the summer months, June, July and August 
the heat of the sun is considerably tempered by 
the land, and see breezes that then blow, so that 
the heat of these months is never felt during the 
same period of the year, to the same extent as is 
that of the cities of Southern Europe. 
The azure blue of the Mediterranean sky, and 
the remarkable clearness of the Mediterranean at- 
mosphere are proverbial. 
In Malta both are particularly exemplified. Save 
during “Gregale, ”or “Sirocco” the sky is seldom 
completely overcast. Estimating a completely over- 
cast sky as being 10, the average mean amount of 
cloud for the last eight years is but 3‘ 5, and in 
no month of the year does it exceeds 5. The 
minimum is generally reached during July, when 
the brilliancy of the atmospheric effects are often 
of a remarkable character. It is no uncommon 
occurrence for the inhabitants of Malta to be able 
to distinctly see Etna, and the coast line of Sicily, 
which are situated upwards of a 100 miles away, 
with the naked eye. The unusual clearness of 
the air, and the irregnlar diffraction that is thus 
caused from water into air, raise the line of sight ; 
and therefore objects that are really below the 
horizon are brought within the field of view. 
Fogs but rarely occur, save in the early part of 
the day during the winter months. Occasionally in 
the summer, light mists form, but these gather 
together in the "grey twilight of the early morning, 
and rapidly dissipate into nothingness as soon as 
the morning sun rises high enough to make the 
influence of its rays felt. 
The atmospheric effects of these swath ine, 
gauze-like, summer mists are often very fine; but 
they will not compare with those that accompany 
the setting of a Mediterranean su l. 
A Malta sunset in the winter time is something 
to see and to admire. Nature then indulges in 
her most capricious fancies, and chequers the 
heavens with forms of every conceivable shade 
and hue. 
The slopes and summits of the hills are enveloped 
in fantastic cloud masses, that exhibit the most 
gorgeous colourings, from amid which, wraiths of 
crimson and purple peep forth and illumine the 
country round with a mellow light that tones 
down and softens the irregularities andthe harsher 
features of the landscape, thus imparting to them 
for the nonce a charm of appearance such as they 
never appear to be invested with upon any other 
occasion. And crowning the whole is the sun 
itself, a molten mass of unsurpassed loveliness, 
bathed in a glorious flood of light; and as it slowly 
sinks behind the distant hills, it radiates outwards 
arid upwards streams of living gold, some of 
which fall aslant the verdure covered slopes, 
