I 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
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fever and bacillus special to the closely allied j 
bilious remittent fever of cooler climates, thereby 
completing a series of closely allied fevers, two of 
which do not happily visit the Mediterranean. 
I hope however that I have clearly proved the 
specific nature of Mediterranean Fever, and that 
even so small a beginning may lead in the future 
to a scientific and practical means of prevention, 
which by improving the salubrity of this island, 
would not only be a blessing to the residents and 
visitors, but add materially to its financial pro- j 
sperity. 
The Latest from Mars. 
A summary of what we know about Mars, so 
far as its physical condition is concerned, appears 
in the conclusions drawn by Prof. W. H. Pick- 
ering from the observations made in Peru during 
the recent close approach of our most earth-like 
planetary neighbour. This astronomer finds it evi- 
dent that the white caps covering the poles, and 
believed to be snow, are really a distinct pheno- 
menon from the cloud formations. Clouds undoubt- 
edly exist. They differ somewhat in density and 
white ness-from those of the earth, and they reach 
heights of not less than twenty miles. The 
atmosphere is inferred to be less dense than that 
at the earth’s surface, but not as much as ten 
times less. The planet has two permanently 
dark regions, blue in color, that are presumably 
water. The other shaded portions undergo 
changes of colour not to be explained by clouds, 
being sometimes greenish and absolutely colorless 
at other times. Green regions are sometimes seen 
near the poles. Numerous so-called canals — some 
only a few miles wide — exist as described by 
Schiaparelli, but no conspicuous doubling was seen 
at this apposition. Branching dark lines run 
through the lighter shaded regions, and may mark 
river courses, though too wide for the stream 
themselves. An especially interesting observation 
was that of numerous black points scattered over 
the planet’s surface, chiefly on the side opposite 
the two seas. Over forty of these points were 
discovered, nearly all at junctions of the canals 
diameters ranging from thirty to 100 miles. For 
convenience these spots are called lakes. 
Meteorological Report for 1S92. 
We are in receipt of the “Result- of Meteoro- 
logical and Magnetical Observations ’ made at the 
Stonyhurst College Observatory during 1892, to 
which is appended the results of the Meteorolo- 
gical observations made at St. Ignatius’s College. 
Malta. 
| An examination of the latter shows that the 
weather phenomena of the Maltese Islands during 
1892 approximated very close!-, • in its character to 
the average which has been experienced during the 
last ten years. The mean temperature for the 
twelve months was 65 '3° Fah. with a mean daily 
range of 127° Fah. 
The highest thermometric reading was recorded 
on the 2nd of August when the mercury showed 
153 7° Fah. in the sum; whilst the mean tempera- 
ture for the same month was higher than that 
of any other month of the year, being Tt-'F Fah. 
The coldest months of the year were January and 
March when 3S’2° and 35 0 were respectively re- 
gistered. 
Rain fell on 81 days of the year during which 
period 25'528 inches fell; hail fell on 5 days; thun- 
derstorms were experienced . on 22 lays; and 
lightning was observed on 17 days. The wettest 
months of the year were January, May. September 
and November; 7 inches having fallen during No- 
vember, and 3 inches respectively during each of 
the other months. No rain fell in August. 
Appended to his report the Rev. J. Seoles S. J. 
records the results of his examination of the baro- 
metric waves during the last 10 years whereby lie 
expected to be able to throw some light upon the 
interesting fact that so large a proportion of tiie 
gales that sweep over the islands last about three 
days, and also to find a difference between the 
Summer and Winter behaviour of the barometer. 
Both of his investigations have been attended 
with gratifying success. We cannot do better 
than quote his own account of them. “I have 
reckoned the waves from Minimum to Minimum 
from a tabulation of the 8 a.m.,and 8 p.m.. readings, 
but eliminating movements or dips of less than 
one tenth, inch deep. The results are as follows: - 
