UNIVALVES. 127 
the process followed by the ancients in the produc- 
tion of this highly valued colour. The works of 
Aristotle and of Pliny contain some details, but they 
are not sufficiently circumstantial; according to the 
latter, the purple dye was procured from different 
shell-fish. The most valuable for this purpose were 
found near the island, where New Tyre was erected ; 
and fishermen were also employed to obtain them in 
various parts of the Mediterranean. The coasts of 
Africa were famous for the purple of Getulia; and 
those of Europe supplied the purple of Laconia, 
which was held in great esteem. 
Pliny ranges in two classes the shell-fish which 
produced the purple. The first, comprehended the 
smaller species, under the denomination of Bucci- 
num, from their resemblance to a hunting horn; 
the second, included those denominated Purpura. 
These, Fabius Columna conceives to have been also 
distinguished by the generic name of Murex, though 
others suppose that the term included several dif- 
ferent shades; and that from their compounds, other 
varieties of colour were produced. 
A few drops of the precious dye were obtained 
from each fish, by extracting a white vein found in 
the throat of the animal ; but with the smaller species 
this troublesome process was avoided, by pounding 
the whole fish in a mortar; a practice, according to 
