282 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



darted their tongues into the cockles, who, 

 feeling the intrusion, instantly closed their 

 shells, and by this means their enemies were 

 drawn up by their tongues.* 



The beautiful dye of the ancients was a 

 liquid contained in a small white vein in the 

 mouth and throat of the purpura. 



This fish was principally taken in the 

 spring of the year, as at that time it was 

 found to possses this precious liquid in the 

 greatest perfection. The veins were laid in 

 salt, and then boiled with much nicety for 

 ten days before the colour was perfect. It 

 gave a scarlet or a purple dye, according to 

 the state of boiling, or in all probability by 

 some slight addition. These colours were 

 both called the Tyrian dye, which accounts 

 for the different term used by the Evan- 

 gelists; St. Matthew writes, that the soldiers, 

 when they stripped Christ, put on a scarlet 

 robe, whereas St. Mark and St. John men- 

 tion a purple robe. 



Till the time of Alexander the Great, we 

 find no other sort of dye than purple, blue, 

 and scarlet. It was under the successors of 



* It is to be regretted that a similar trap has not been 

 invented for the reptile slanderer, whose cutting tongue 

 often injures the fairest reputation. 



