270 
The Natural Hiffory of the Book IX. 
the Dye of the other; and the Purpura and Murex were on2 and the 
fame Fith. But let us, if it be poflible, be more exact, and diftinguifh 
them as well as we can; which we fhall attempt to do, by giving the 
Reader as clear and precife a Defcription of the Murex [for to that more 
efpecially fhall we confine our Inquiries] as we are able to collect from 
antient Authors. 
xie, and, The Murex is often called by Greek Authors, xiv, and Buccinum 
'y 3° 7p 
Buccinum. 
Murex. 
by the Latins ; both which Appellations are evidently beftowed upon it, 
becaufe it belongs to the Tribe of thofe Shell-fifh which are ftiled Bucci- 
natores ; or, as Horace names them, /onantes Conche, founding Conchs ; 
whofe Shells, being twifted, hollow, and fit for the Retention of the Air, 
refemble, in an imperfeét Degree, that Shell, . which the Antients ufed in 
giving their Alarms and Summons, both at Sea, and on Land ; and which 
fome of the Moderns at this Day carry and ufe in their Ships. 
2. And as thefe Names are attributed to the Murex from the Form or 
Make of its Shell; fo we are induced to believe, that the Appellation 
Murex owes its Rife to the Roughne/s of it. For its Shell is ftudded with 
Prickles, ranged in regular Rows, as is the Purpura alfo, and many other 
Shells of this Clafs: So that the Name Murex is by no means proper to 
the Purple Conch we are {peaking of ; but belongs to a large Tribe, whofe 
particular Families are varioufly diftinguifhed. It is confeffed, that 
Pliny (a) (if we underftand him, and the Copy be clear of Errors] af- 
ferts, ‘* that the Buccinum hath no Prickles, as hath the Purpura; and 
“ that in the Shells of both there is a Number of circular Rows, or Ribs, 
“ correfponding to the Number of their Years.” But we prefume this 
laborious Naturalift either-means, that the Prickles of the Buccinum are 
not fo prominent or large as thofe of the Purpura; or herein has forgotten 
himfelf. For if the Buccinum and Murex are the fame Fifh, and allowed 
by him (4) to be fo ; it follows, that the Buceimum muft have the Aculeos, 
as well as the Purpura, fince the Name Murex was evidently beftowed 
upon it, becaufe its Shell is poizted: or prickled(c). ‘This is the proper 
Senfe of the Word Murex; which is therefore applied to Calthorps, or 
Chauffe-trappes, warlike Engines, which are armed with Iron Tecth, or 
Spikes ; and its Derivative Muricatus, to every thing that is fharpened 
and pointed. 
From thefe two Appellations, taken together, we may form a juft De- 
{cription of the Murex, and define it to be “ a Conch, ftudded on its 
(4a) Alterum [viz. Purpura] clavatum eft ad turbinem ufq; aculeis in orbem feptenis 
Jere; qui non funt Buccino; fed utrifg, orbes totidem, quot habeant annos. Nat. Hitt. 
. 1X. C. 36. 
(4) See Notes, did. And Vofius in his Etymologicon fhews, that the Murex anfwers 
to Ariftotle’s Kipuk [i. e. the Buccinum], and is {uppofed by fome to be derived from it. 
In Voce Murex, 1 
(¢) So Iidorus fays, “* Murex eft Cochlea Maris, diéfa ab Acumine & Afperitate.” 
belie c. 6. Originum, Here Tfidorus’s Acumen fignifies juft the fame Thing, as Pliny’s 
cule. 
S° outer 
