MURICID^E. 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 of 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). 

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

 'Heraldry of Fish.' 



