MURICIDiE. WHELK. 203 



those found in the Euripus, and around Caria. Ac- 

 cording to Pliny, the juice of the Buccinum was con- 

 sidered inferior by itself, but mixed with that of the 

 Pelagia it blended well, and gave a bright lustre to the 

 colour. The proper proportions for dyeing fifty pounds 

 of wool were 200 pounds of juice of the Buccinum, and 

 111 pounds of pelagium,* and this mixture produced a 

 beautiful amethyst colour. The Tyrian hue was given 

 to wool by soaking it in the juice of the Pelagia, while 

 the mixture was in a raw state, and afterwards dipping 

 it in the juice ol the Buccinum. The best quality was 

 of the colour of blood, of a blackish hue to the sight, 

 but of a shining appearance when held up to the 

 light.f The " conchyliated " colour comprehended a 

 variety of shades, viz., that of the heliotropium, as 

 well as one of a deeper colour ; that of the mallow in- 

 clining to a full purple, and that of the late violet ; 

 this last being the most vivid of all the " conchyliated " 

 tints. J 



The best purple in Asia was that of Tyre, and the 

 peculiar symbol of that city was the whelk, or purpura, 

 and it appears on the Tyrian medals. § Strabo remarks 

 that this city was rendered unpleasant as a place of 

 residence, owing to the great number of its dyeing- 

 works. 



In the days of Ezekiel, purple was imported by the 

 Tyrians from the Peloponnesus, but they soon learned 

 to extract the dye for themselves. A modern traveller, 

 Mr. Wilde, observed at Tyre numerous round holes 



* Pelagia was the shellfish, and pelagium, the juice, or colour, 

 from it. 



f Pliny, 'Nat. Hist.' vol. ii. bk. ix. chap. 62 (38). 

 X Ibid. vol. iv. bk. xxi. chap. 22 (8). 

 § « Heraldry of Fish.' 



