PURPURA, BUCCINUM. 87 
Famity Buccinipe, Fleming. 
Purpura, Brugwiere. 
* Purpura lapillus, Linné. 
Buccinum lapillus, Linné; Purpura Anglicana, Lister. 
Habitat—On all rocky coasts and in some sandy bays 
(such as Fintry) where Mactrae and other bivalves abound ; 
exceedingly common. This voracious animal seems to spend 
most of its time feeding, its favourite morsels being barnacles, 
limpets, cockles, and Mactrae. Gould endeavours to palliate 
the destructive habits of this molluse, pointing out that 
being a dweller amongst rocks and stones only univalves can 
be its victims, and that the Naticae must be held answerable 
for the ruined homesteads of the bivalves which bestrew our 
sandy bays. That this is not a true inference I have shown 
above and elsewhere ; and it is certain that the prospect of 
a juicy dish entices the dog whelk to abandon the rocks and 
wander over sandy bays, although probably never becoming 
domiciled on such uncongenial ground. The usual colour in 
this district is yellowish white; banded specimens are not 
uncommon, especially in the neighbourhood of Helensburgh 
and Rothesay, where also banded specimens of Littorina 
obtusata and striped specimens of Mytilus edulis are common, 
suggesting a connection between sewage and decorative 
marking! This common shell, known with us as the dog 
whellk, is not of any economic value, being neither eaten nor 
used for bait. It yields, however, a well coloured and per- 
manent dye, suitable for marking linen; but the invention of 
“the Original Bond” has put the molluscan extract out of court. 
British distribution.—EKvery where throughout our shores ; 
very abundant. 
Foreign localities—Throughout the northern seas of both 
hemispheres, extending in Europe as far south as Spain 
(M Andrew), and becoming dwarted at Mogador (Lowe), its 
southmost authentic limit. In America we have it on the 
eastern coast, from Greenland and Labrador to Massachusetts 
(Gould) ; whilst Carpenter records it from the North Pacific. 
Doubtful localities, such as Mexico and Senegal, are also on 
record. 
Buccinum, Linné. 
* Buccinum undatum, Linné. 
Buccinum crassum, &ce., Lister ; Buccinum vulgare, Da Costa ; 
Tritonium undatum, Miiller. 
Habitat—Common everywhere from low water mark to 
