P Y E 
Bin: the diftlnguifhing characlers of which are; 
that the fhell is univalve, jagged, and befet from the 
head to the tail with fpines, tubercles, and ftrise ; 
the mouth is fmall and roundilh ; and the tail is 
lliort. 
Chonchologifts have too generally confounded 
the genera of the murex and Purpura, and iifed 
the words as fynonymous : but though there is 
fome external refemblance between many of the 
jQiells of the two genera, they are eafily diftin- 
guifhed, by the Purpura having a fliorter, lefs 
dentated, and alated mouth, than the murcx. The 
bodies and heads of the Ihells of this genus are 
lefs elevated than thofe of the murex, and not co- 
vered with points or buttons at the mouth. 
Hence, if afnell has a fmall, fmooth, round mouth, 
and a body covered with undulated leaves, fome- 
what refembling thofe of the favory or endive, 
and fometimes with long points, while the tail is 
hollowed, and flightly bent •, this may be deno- 
minated a Purpura, and not a murex: neverthe- 
lefs, Linnseus makes the Purpura a fpecies of the 
murex. 
On examining the whole family of the Purpura;, 
four remarkable fpecific differences may be di- 
ftinguifhed between them: the firfl. comprehends 
thofe Purpura which have the body of the fhell 
adorned with a kind of undulated foliage in 
clouded ridges, and a fhort crooked tail; the fe- 
cond includes thofe which have the body of the 
fliell covered with acute points and a long tail; 
the third confifts of thofe which have a long tail, 
and a finooth body, or only a few flight protube- 
rances on it; and the fourth comprehends thofe 
which are fmall, with an elevated clavicle, a fhort 
crooked tail, and the body covered with flender 
Ipines or hairs. 
This genus, as well as the murex, fuppliedthe 
ancients with that beautiful purple dye which has 
been fo much celebrated in their writings, though 
the manner of it's application is now in a great 
meafure unknown. The Purpura and murex are 
both fiflied up in great plenty in the Gulph of 
Tarentum; but the fmall quantity of coloured 
juice which each fifli contains, and the neceflity 
of ufing it while the animal is alive, render it im- 
pofiible to be brought to any regular trafhc. 
Thefe fliells are alfo found in various parts of 
the Mediterranean : nor are they confined to the 
European feas; but are met with in various parts 
of the Wtft Indies, and on the coafls of the South 
Sea iflands. 
Purpura, Persian, or Perfian fhell. A fpecies 
of the dolium. See Dolium. 
PUTORIUS. See Pole-Cat. 
PUTORIUS SERPENS. An appellation 
given by fome authors to that fpecies of ferpent 
called by others dryinus. 
PYE. SeePic^,. 
. PvE, Sea. See Pica Marina. 
Pye, Grey, of Brazil; the Lanius Negeta of 
Einnseus. This bird has a duf!<.y bill, flightly in- 
curvated ; and from the angles of the mouth pafs 
broad black lines under the eyes to the hinder 
part of the head. The top of the head, the upper 
fide of the neck, the back, and the lelTer coverts 
of the wings, are of a dark brovv'nifh afli-colour. 
The tail is black, the exterior feathers deeply tipt 
with white, and tiiC middle ones long, gradually 
fiiortening towards the fides. The quills are black 
or duflcy ; and the coverts are alfo duficy, v/ith 
light aili-colourcd tips. Round the eyes, and 
from the throat to the coverts under the tail, the 
PYE 
whole under fide is covered with light afli-coloured 
plumage. The legs and feet are of a dark cine- 
reous hue ; and the claws are black. 
Pye, Green, of Ceylon ; the Turdus Zeylo-^ 
nicus of Linnffius. This bird, has a black bill ; 
and from the noftrib on each fide paffes a yellow 
line towards the eyes. The throat, iir.mediately 
below the bill, is of a bright yellow colour; and 
from the angles of the mouth beneath tlie eyes 
pafs black lines, which turn downwards, and 
unite in a large black fpot on the beginning of 
the breaft. The breaft, belly, thighs, and co- 
verts beneath the tail, are of a yellov/ colour ; as 
are the fides under the wings, and the inner co- 
verts of the wings. The top of the head, the 
upper fide of the neck, the back, rump, and up- 
per coverts of the wings, are of an olive green hue, 
fomewhat brighter on the rump and the edges of 
the greater quills than in other parts; the tips of 
the greater quills are dufky; the middle feathers 
of the tail are the largeft, and all of a blackifli co- 
lour both above and below, except the tips, which 
are yellow; and the legs, feet, and claws, are lead- 
coloured. 
Pye, Yellow-Winged ; the Oriolus Cayanen- 
fis of Linnaeus. This bird has a fharp black bill, 
fomevv'hat incurvated: the plumage of the whole 
body is of a dull black colour, except the lefTer 
covert-feathers of the wings, which are of a bright 
yellow ; the tail is compofed of twelve feathers, 
the middle ones being the longefl, and gradually 
fhortening towards the fides ; and the legs, feet, 
and claws, are pretty ftrong, and of a black or 
dt]n<^y colour. 
This Pye is a native of Guiana, in South Ame- 
rica. 
Pye, Short-Tailed; the Corvus Brachiurus 
of Linnneus. This bird has a ftraight, fliarp- 
pointed bill, of a brownifh flefli-colour ; a black 
line pafiTes from the upper mandible of the bill 
along the crown of the head, and down the hinder 
part of the neck ; above the eyes run lines of a 
light brown colour on their upper borders, and 
white beneath ; and from the angles of the mouth 
beneath the eyes, and a little v/ay down the fides of 
the neck, paffes a pretty broad black line. The 
throat below the bill is white ; the back and greater 
coverts of the wings are of a fine darkifli green 
colour; the upper coverts of the tail and lefTer 
coverts of the wings are of a fine bright fky blue 
colour ; the quills, and fome of the coverts, are 
black; and about fix of the exterior quills are 
tranfverfely barred with white. The tail is com- 
pofed of twelve very fhort feathers of a black ifh 
colour, with green tips; the breaft, belly, and 
thighs, are of a yellowifh buff colour; and the 
lower belly, with the coverts beneath the tail, are 
of a fine light red colour. The legs, feet, and 
claws, are of a dull orange colour; and the exte- 
rior toes adhere to the middle ones at the bottom. 
This bird is a native of the Ifle of Ceylon ; and 
was firft introduced into Europe by Governor 
Loten. 
Pye, Crtsted, Long-Tailed ; the Mufci- 
capa Paradin of Linnsus. The bill of this bird 
is of a dark afli-colour, pretty ftraight, fliarp- 
pointed, and angled; the neck and head ^^re co- 
vered with black feathers, refiefting a blue or 
greenifli glofs; and the plumage on the crown 
forms a crcft. The back, wings, and tail, are of 
a bright rcddifli cinnamon colour; the tips of the 
quills are dufky; and the two middle feathers of 
the tail are longer than the exterior ones at leaft 
nine 
