166 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



researches. Fortune befriended us ; for in doubling 

 a small promontory we perceived an islet whose 

 contour was broken in all directions by the projection 

 of sharp rocks along the water's edge, which, no 

 doubt, afforded numerous and snug retreats for 

 those Molluscs, Annelids, and other marine popula- 

 tions, which we were desirous of studying. On 

 consulting our map, we found that this was the 

 Isola delle Femine, situated opposite to the tongue 

 of land and rocky ledge, on which stands the village 

 of Torre dell' Isola di Terra, inhabited by a population 

 of fishermen. We at once landed, and while one 

 of the sailors was boiling some eggs for our breakfast, 

 by aid of a fire of sticks, we examined the beach, and 

 soon saw enough to convince ourselves that we could 

 not select a more promising spot for our first halting 

 place. 



Elated at the discovery we had made, we proceeded 

 with much satisfaction to despatch our breakfast of 

 hard boiled eggs, deliberating the while upon the 

 chances of meeting with anything like available 

 accommodation among the fishing population of the 

 place. While we were thus engaged, a superannuated 

 custom-house officer approached, and with great de- 

 monstrations of respect, implored our Excellencies to 

 proceed to the village, where we would, he assured 

 us, find no difficulty in meeting with suitable accom- 

 modation. This mark of attention surprised us not 

 a little ; but we soon discovered the source to which 

 we owed it. It appeared that, independently of the 

 letters with which we had been furnished, and which 

 were all potent against the supervisions and exactions 



