238 POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



horny. Animal, head large; proboscis either 

 short or altogether wanting ; two 

 tentacula, having eyes in the mid- 

 dle; foot large. — 50 species, 1 of 

 which is also fossil. 



The Purpura is found most 

 abundantly in warm seas, where 

 the shells attain the largest size, 

 a few only of the species being met with in 

 Europe ; they are chiefly litoral, or found 

 on and near the sea coast. It was from the 

 animal of this genus that the Roman purple dye 

 was obtained. P. patula is supposed to be the 

 species ; it is found in the Atlantic Ocean and 

 Mediterranean Sea. The species P. lapillus 9 

 found on the British coasts, affords a small 

 quantity of this colouring matter. 



104. Monoceras. — Shell oval; mouth ra- 

 ther long and notched; a sharp 

 projecting tooth at the base of the 

 right lip ; left lip generally flat- 

 tened. Animal like the Purpura. 

 — 5 species, recent. 



Found in the seas of southern 



