Class VI. SHELLS. 119 



Length near an inch and a half. 



Inhabits (in vaft abundance) rocks near low- 

 water mark. 



This is one of the Englifo fhells that produces 

 the purple dye, analogous to the purpura of the 

 antients : our fhell has been made ufe of as an ob- 

 ject of curiofity. 



The antient has been long fince fuperfeded by 

 the introduction of the infect Coccus Cacli, or the 

 Cochineel beetle. The fhells were of the genus of 

 Murex, mentioned by Ldnna us, pp. 12 14, 12 15. 

 But one was a fort of Buccinum. Pliny defcribea 

 both *. The fineft was the Tyrian. 



c Tyrioque ardebat Murice lana j s 



A ftrong expreflion of Virgil, who defcribes the 

 cloth, 



* Glowing with the Tyrian Murex. 5 



The fpecies of fhells are found in various parts 

 of the Mediterranean. Immenfe heaps of them are 

 to be feen about Tarentum -f to this day, evincing 

 one place where this precious liquor was extracted. 



The procefs of obtaining the Englijh Purpura 

 is well defcribed by Mr. William Cole, of Briftol, in 

 j 684, in the following words J. 



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



I Ph. Tr. Abr. ii. 826. 



I 4 « The 



