68 Life Beneath the Waves. 



coasts : like Sea-snails, they are also re- 

 markable for almost concealing their shells 

 with their bodies when moving about; they 

 are generally white, tinged with pink, 

 brown, or grey, and sometimes spotted 

 with black. 



The Purpura, or Dog-winkle, as it is 

 commonly called, is not at all a rare shell, 

 for living specimens may be found in abun- 

 dance amongst the rocks when the tide is 

 out, and dead shells may be found in equal 

 profusion on the beach. 



But in spite of its being what is termed 

 a " common shell," the Dog-winkle is well 

 worthy of our notice ; it was highly prized 

 by the ancients on account of its having 

 some yellowish matter in a sort of bag 

 behind its head, from which a purple dye 

 was made. 



I have read that the inhabitants of Tyre 



