a strong town of France, in Lower Picardy, with a citadel and a fortified harbour. It is built in the form of a triangle; one side of which is towards the sea. The citadel is as large as the town, and has but one entrance. It is a trading place, with handsome streets, and several churches and monasteries; the number of inhabitants is reckoned to be 4000. It was taken by king Edward III. in 1347; and was lost in queen Mary's time, in 1557. It was bombarded by the English in 1696, without doing much damage. The fortifications are good; but its greatest strength is its situation among the marshes, which may be overflowed at the approach of an enemy. The harbour is not so good as formerly, nor will it admit vessels of any great burden. In times of peace, there are packet-boats going backward and forward twice a-week from Dover to Calais, which is 21 miles distant. E. Long. 2. 6. N. Lat. 50. 58.

CALAIS and Zetes, in fabulous history, sons of Boeotus and Orithia, to whom the poets attributed wings: they went on the voyage of Colchis with the Argonauts, delivered Phineus from the harpies, and were slain by Hercules.