160 History of Nature. [BooK IX. 



Conchylia. And by far the best, the Purpurae dialutense, 

 that is, a Kind which is fed by various Kinds of Soil. Now 

 these Purpurae are taken with very small Snares, like Nets, 

 thrown into deep Water. Within these, for a Bait, are some 

 Shells, that will shut, and are ready to snap, as we may 

 see the Mituli. These, when half dead, are put back into 

 the Sea, when reviving and gaping for Water, the Purpurae 

 eagerly seek for them with their pointed Tongues, which 

 they thrust out and so annoy them : but the others, feeling 

 themselves pricked, presently shut their Shells together, and 

 compress those that bite them. Thus the Purpurae, through 

 their Greediness, are taken, hanging by their Tongues. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

 The Fishing -time for Pur puree. 



THE best Time to take Purpurae is after the Dog-Star is 

 risen, or before the Spring. For, when they have borne 

 Young their Juice is waterish. But the Shops of the 

 Dyers do not know this, although their highest Skill turns 

 on this Point. When they are caught they extract the 

 Vein before-mentioned ; and they lay it in the necessary 

 Salt, in the Proportion of a Pint and half (of Salt) to every 

 Hundred-weight. It is right to soak it for about three Days, 

 for the newer the Colour is, so much is it stronger. They 

 heat it in Lead, and to every Amphora of Water 1 they put 

 one hundred and fifty Pounds of the Colour so prepared. 

 They boil it with a gentle Fire, and therefore the Pipe must 

 lead a good W T ay off from the Furnace. During this Time, the 

 Flesh being now and then skimmed off (for some of this can- 

 not be prevented from sticking to the Veins), for the most 

 Part about the tenth Day the Kettle is sufficiently pre- 

 pared ; and to make Trial of it, they dip into it a Fleece of 

 Wool that has been washed out of one Water into another : 

 and until their Wish is satisfied, they persist in trying the 

 Liquor. The red Colour is worse than that which is dark. 



1 See Chap, xxxix. Wern. Club. 



