BUCCINUM. WHELK. Class VI. 



of the antients : our shell has been made use of 

 as an object of curiosity. 



The antient has been long since superseded 

 by the introduction of the insect Coccus Cactiy 

 or the Cochineal beetle. The shells were of 

 the genus of Alurez, mentioned by Linnaeus, 

 pp. 1214, 1215. But one was a sort of Bucci- 

 num. Pliny describes both.* The finest was 

 the Tyr'ian. 



' Tyrioque ardebat Murice lana \ 



A strong expression of Virgil^ who describes 

 the cloth, 



' Glowing with the Tyrian Murex.' 



The species of shells are found in various 

 parts of the Mediterrcmean. Immense heaps 

 of them are to be seen about Tarentum'\ to this 

 day, evincing one place where this pretious 

 liquor was extracted. 



The process of obtaining the English Pur- 

 pura is well described by Mr. IViUiam Cole, of 

 Bristol, in 1684, in the following words: J 



' The shells being harder than most of other 

 ' kinds, are to be broken with a smart stroke 

 ' with a hammer, on a plate of iron, or firm 



* Lib. ix. c. 36. f Baron Riedesel's Travels, p. 174. 



+ Ph. Tr. Ah: ii. 826. 



