120 

 TURBO. 



ClATHRus. Turbo Clathrus. Lin. Trans, viii. p. 170; 



p. 296, Pult* Hutch. Dorset, t. 15. f. 1 1. 



This fliell has recently occurred to us alive, at the Salt 

 Ston^ ill the eftuary of Kmgsbridge, of a luperior fize, and 

 every fpecimen is more or lefs veined, or mottled with 

 brown. The operculum is coriaceous, black, and fpirally 

 Itrlated. 



The animal is mottled black and white, with a long tubular 

 probolcis capable of receding within itfelf, like the tentacula 

 of a common Limax or fnail : this is the mouth, from wiience 

 it muft be inferred that all fuflenance isi:jlaken in with tlie 

 water througli this trunk which probably confifts chiefly of 

 animalculi. The eyes are fmall, and fituated at the bafe of 

 the tentacula behind, a little elevated : tentacula (lender,, 

 black : fuftentaculum white. 



As the animal becomes fickty by keeping for fome days in 

 fea water, it frequently difcharges a moll beautiful purple 

 liquor. This circumftance was known to Plancus, who 

 obferves that it is one of thofe fliclls which yields the puiple 

 dye of the Meditetranean; and which is alfo recorded by 

 Martin I . It may indeed with much reafon be conjedlured 

 that this is really one of the (liells from the animal of which 

 the ancients procured their famous purple dye ; tliougii if 

 Pliny is confulted, the fliells tliat produced tiiis precious 

 colour were either Murices or Buccines, or both ; * ' glowing 



with 



