Geographical Distribution of the Shell-Purple Industry. 15 
the authority of the Rev. A. H. Cooke, that the mollusc 
was used for the preparation of its distinctive product, 
the “Tyrian Purple.” 
In Africa, the island of Meninx (now Jerba) in the 
Gulf of Cabes, was famed for its purple, as well as parts 
of Getulia that border on the ocean.” The port of Zuchis, 
on the mainland, close to Meninx, also contained factories 
for purple dyeing.” Juba II., King of Mauritania, is said 
to have established a manufactory of this dye, known as 
“Getulian Purple” in the Purpurarie, or “ Purple Islands” 
(probably the Madeira group).” 
In the British Isles the art of purple dyeing from shell- 
fish seems to have been known from very early times. 
That it dates from pre-historic times in Ireland seems 
evident from the discoveries made in 1895 by R. Standen 
and his co-workers of “ Purpura-mounds ” associated with 
“Kitchen-middens” of Patella vulgata, Littortna littorea, 
etc., at Portnafeadog (or Dogs Bay), Connemara, West of 
Ireland. 
In his paper on the subject” the author states that 
the shells of Purpura lapillus in the “ Purpura-mounds ” 
had all been broken in a peculiar manner. In each case 
the apical‘whorls were smashed, leaving the lower whorl 
with mouth intact, and in some cases portions of the 
second and third whorls remaining along with the 
columella. The broken Purpura shells were present in 
enormous quantities and one large heap measured 55 
yards in length, 15 yards across the broad end, and 3 
yards across the narrow end. Two hundred specimens 
were picked up from one square foot. 
Heaps of the shells of the same species in a broken 
SS Plinyene "Nels? 1X. 5 Ch. 60. 
58 Straho, xvii., 835. 
ba elinysyc Nellase Vita chy 30. 
8° Journal of Conchology, viii., 1896, p. 187. 
