ORCHELLA. 223 



to have been obtained. The animals were collected, the 

 robe dyed, and this "labour of Hercules" was accom- 

 plished. 



The strongest argument in favour of the ancient purple 

 of Tyre being derived from the Roccella, is the following 

 passage from the Old Testament, which would seem to infer 

 that it was collected on the rocks \- — 



" Fine linen, with broidered work from Egypt, was that 

 which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail ; blue and purple 

 from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee." — 

 Ezekiel xxvii. 7. 



The art of dyeing with these lichens, lost during the dark 

 ages, was not revived until the fourteenth century, when it 

 was accidentally discovered, and afterwards practised at Flo- 

 rence by a gentleman of birth named Eerro or Eredrigo, who 

 from this source derived a princely fortnne, and founded a 

 family, which from this circumstance bore the name of 

 Oricellarii. 



The Orchella-weed of commerce is brought from various 

 places, each supplying a distinct species, which com- 

 mercially bears the name of the locality. The following 

 valuable list from Pereira gives the botanical names : — 



