280 



voraciousness ; that it has a cover, by \vliich it opens 

 and shuts its shell at pleasure ; that it has twelve 

 large crooked arms, furnished with air, which it thrusts 

 forth for its prey ; and eight smaller, which are ge* 

 nerally kept in the shell. They are seen adhering 

 to every substance that is to be met with in the 

 ocean ; rocks, roots of trees, ships bottoms, whales, 

 lobsters, and even crabs ; like bunches <;f grapes 

 clung to each other. It is amusing enough to be- 

 hold their operations. They for some time remain 

 motionless within their shell; but when the sea is 

 calm, they are seen opening the Jid, and peeping 

 about them. They then thrust out their long neck, 

 look round (hem lor some time, and then abruptly 

 retreat back into their box, shut the lid, and lurk ia 

 darkness and security. 



+ 



Among the shell-fish on the Waterford coast, is 

 the Murex, which gave the Tyrian purple. It is in. 

 great plenty there, and is by the English called a 

 horse-winkle. The shell is about an inch long, 

 and half an inch broad, and turns spirally like a snail- 

 shell. Each fish has a peculiar reservoir, which 

 contains a large drop of liquor : if this is pressed out 

 on liuen, the linen first appears of a dirty yell AV, in- 

 clining to green, afterward it changes to a lemon co- 

 lour, then to a deep green ; then it turns to a deep 

 bliie, and at last to a charming purple. 



The shells of the ancient purple-fish, are still com. 

 mon on the Tyrian shore. Tne fisa itself is found 

 in great abundance in the seas of the Spanish West- 

 Indies, near Pan a on a and Niccya, exactly agreeing 

 M'irh Pliny's account of the ancient Murex. Cl'-ih of 

 Segovia, died with this purple*, is sold for twenty 

 crowns an eli, and is very rarely Worn by any, but 

 the greatest noblemen in Spain. The Qanbbee islands 

 h ivr ai^o tb< .same soft of fish, which we may likewise 

 find nearer home, namely on the coasts of . Somerset- 

 shire, as well us of South- Wales. 



