LETTERS. 407 
remarkable : the Pinna muricata, or great Silk 
mufcle, is here found in the bottom of the fea in 
large quantities, being a foot long : the o'jMw&hct, 
or cuttle fi(h with eight rays, watches the oppor- 
tunity, when the mufcle opens her (hell, to creep 
in it, and devour her ; but a little crab, which has 
fcarcely anyjhell, or has at leaft only a very thin 
one, lodges conftantly in this (hell-fifh ; (he pays 
a good rent, by faving the life of her landlady, for 
ftie keeps a conftant look out through the aper- 
ture of the fhcll, and on feeing the enemy ap- 
proach, (he begins to ftir, when the 7 nW (for fo 
the Greeks call the (hell) Pnuts up her houfe, and 
the rapacious animal is excluded. I faw this (hell- 
fifh firft at the ifiand of Milo, and found fuch a 
little crab in all I opened : I wondered not a lit- 
tle what was her bufinefs there ; but when I came 
here, I was firft informed of it by the Secretary of 
our Conful, Mr. Jufti, a curious and ingenious 
man, who has travelled much, and lived long in this 
place. This was afterwards confirmed by feve- 
ral Greeks, who daily catch and eat both thefe 
animals. I have fufficiently deferibed thefe three 
animals, with the fifli and birds I have feen to this 
day, and likewife preferve them all, fome dried, 
others in fpirits of wine. I have the honour to tranf- 
mit a defeription of a Code (Fulica), the others (hall 
follow, as foon as I can copy them, and my journal. 
As to what relates to the continuing of my 
journey to Paleftine, I had at firft an intention of 
going to Conftantinople, and thence to Syria but 
believe I (hall alter my mind, and go dire&ly 
hence, for many reafons. Here the opportunities 
of getting vefiels are more frequent, the voyage 
is fhorter : I have alfo heard, that in a fhort time 
there will be a good opportunity of going in com- 
pany 
