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 Elo- 

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

 from this source derived a princely fortune, 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 : — 



