11.3 



" Those in No. 2. had been in my possess-^'on for many 

 months, and had lost their purple fluid in a great measure. 

 I am not even certain that they are the same species as 

 No. 1.* They are sent to yow for an accurate examina- 

 tion. I can readily believe that the Tyriaa purple dye uas 

 first discovered by a dog eating a fish on the sea -shore, 

 which tinged his mouth of so beautiful a colour as to excite 

 curiosity how it originated. The fish which is now sent 

 you, M^hen in the surf of the sea, appears so like the liver 

 of a bullock, that a dog might easily mistake it for that 

 viscus." 



We do not know why Pennant has made the generic name 

 begin Avith an L, as we suspect that the name is derived 

 from the Greek word ATrXva-la, signifying immundlties , illotiis, 

 from its being unwholesome or filthy. Turton has made it 

 Laplisia. 



* We think they may be the same species in a different state of growth: 

 the small ones, No. 2 , however, are brown with dark spots. We want 

 more light on the subject. 



