Mesoscale Calculations of the Dynamic Behavior of a Granular Ceramic

Mesoscale calculations have been conducted in order to gain further insight into the dynamic compaction characteristics of granular ceramics. The primary goals of this work are to numerically determine the shock response of granular tungsten carbide and to assess the feasibility of using these results to construct the bulk material Hugoniot. Secondary goals include describing the averaged compaction wave behavior as well as characterizing wave front behavior such as the strain rate versus stress relationship and statistically describing the laterally induced velocity distribution. The mesoscale calculations were able to accurately reproduce the experimentally determined Hugoniot slope but under predicted the zero pressure shock speed by 12%. The averaged compaction wave demonstrated an initial transient stress followed by asymptotic behavior as a function of grain bed distance. The wave front dynamics demonstrate non-Gaussian compaction dynamics in the lateral velocity distribution and a power-law strain rate–stress relationship

An annotated catalogue of the Lepidoptera collection of Guido Lanfranco at the National Museum of Natural History in Malta

An annotated list of the lepidoptera in the Lanfranco collection donated to the National Museum of Natural History of Mdina in Malta is included. Where relevant, comments on particular species or specimens are provided.peer-reviewe

First record of Xenopsylla gratiosa Jordan & Rothschild, 1923 from the Maltese Islands (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

Xenopsylla gratiosa is reported for the first time from the Maltese Islands. The species was found in an abandoned nest of a Cory’s Shearwater, Calonectris diomedea on the island of Filfla. Brief notes are included on previous records of fleas from the Maltese Islands and taxonomic, distributional and ecological notes are provided for Xenopsylla gratiosapeer-reviewe

Preliminary notes on the early stages of Isturgia pulinda (Walker, 1860) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

The early stages, larval hostplant and voltism of Isturgia pulinda in the Maltese Islands are documentedpeer-reviewe

A checklist to the quaternary avifauna of the Maltese islands preliminary note

The Maltese Quaternary fauna is more or less well documented, with most works concentrating mainly on the pachyderms, ungulates and micro-mammals. Less known is the variable amount of avian remains unearthed from various sites. The only avian species which has to some extent been studied in detail are Cygnus falconeri and Grus melitensis. The other 44 species or genera which have been discovered and identified are less documented. Of these, no less than six species were endemic to Malta and/or the Mediterranean region. The Maltese Quaternary avifauna has been previously documented by Parker (1865, 1869), Adams (1866, 1867, 1870), Spratt (1867), Lydekker (1890, 1891), Bate (1916), Caton Thompson (1923), Despott (1924-25, 1926- 27, 1928-29), Fischer & Stephan (1974), Northcote (1982a, 1982b, 1981-83, 1984, 1984-85, 1988) and Weesie (1987).peer-reviewe

The grapsid crab Percnon gibbesi (Milne Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) : a new addition to the marine fauna of Malta

The first records and known distribution in Maltese waters of the grapsid crab Percnon gibbesi, an alien species, are presented.peer-reviewe

The presence of Gekkonidae (Reptilia : Squamata) on Fungus Rock and Filfla (Maltese Archipelago)

The presence of Hemidactylus turcicus (L.) on Fungus Rock is recorded for the first time, while its presence on Filfla is confirmed. Other specimens were observed on Filfla and one was tentatively identified as Tarentola mauritanica (L.).peer-reviewe

Medlycott's drawings of Maltese natural history

In 186lWilliam Tallack wrote: "William C. P. Medlycott, Esq., an English gentleman, who spends a part of almost every winter in Malta, has also devoted much careful observation to its birds and ichthyology. He has drawn a series of very accurate coloured representations of the fish and crustaceans of the island, which, if published would be a valuable contribution to the natural history of Europe" (Tallack, 1861). Thirty-two years later, this paragraph was partly quoted by 1. H. Cooke (1893), who added the question "Can any of our readers inform us of the whereabouts of these drawings?" The aim of this note is to bring to light the whereabouts of Medlycott's drawings, with the hope that someone in future may find the time and resources to make an in-depth study of them.peer-reviewe

The presence of the black rat Rattus rattus on Fungus Rock (Maltese Islands)

The presence of Rattus sp. on Fungus Rock was first noted on 26th May 1988, when one of the authors (JS) visited the islet and collected droppings of rats. These droppings were also examined by Prof. P. J. Schembri (Biology Department, University of Malta) who confirmed that they probably belonged to rats and consisted mainly of woody vegetable fibres with some insect exoskeletal remains, mainly of beetles. During this visit it was also noted that rodents had eaten plants of the famed "Maltese Fungus" Cynomorium coccineum.peer-reviewe

Note on the diet of a Grey Long-eared Bat, Plecotus austriacus (Fischer, 1829) from Mdina. Malta (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae)

The diet of a Grey Long-eared Bat, Plecotus austriacus, residing in a small room at the National Museum of Natural History in Mdina was analysed seasonally (spring and autumn) during a two-year period (2000-2001). Twenty-three species of moth were identified in the bat's prey remains.peer-reviewe