(the ancient Pelagia or Lepodusa), an island in the Mediterranean, belonging to the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and lying midway between Malta and the Tunis coast, in N. Lat. 35° 29' 12", E. Long. 12° 35' 12". It is 7 miles in length from E. to W., by scarcely 1 in breadth. The interior is level, and abounds in dwarf olives and other similar shrubs, which are cut down and exported to Malta and Tripoli for firewood. But the shore is high and precipitous, except on the S.E. side, where it is low, and indented by a number of small bays. Wild goats are found in great blocks; and caves are numerous both on the sea-shore and in the interior. This island was made a state prison by the king of Naples in 1843. As dependencies, it has the islands Lampione and Linosa.