14 
BULLETIN - OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
traded to them by the fathom-measure for want of an ell- 
measure. ” As Lescarbot points out, the shells from which 
the white wampum was commonly made, do not occur upon 
the shores of Acadia, and the Acadian Indians do not appear 
to have manufactured the purple wampum, though the 
material for it was abundant on the North Shore. Denys 
mentions that they wore among their ornaments, “ white and 
violet porcelain,” and goes on to say , — “ they make of it also 
pendants for the ears, which they have pierced in two or three 
places. This porcelain is nothing else than the teeth (dents) 
of a certain fish which is taken by the savages in New England, 
and which is very rare there and at this time is very much 
valued among them ; that which is common now, has each 
grain of the length of half a finger’s breadth.” 
Prof. Bailey mentions the occurrence of wampum in an 
Indian grave on the Tobique, though made, as he thinks, from 
the shells of Fresh-water Mussels. 
The most noted dyeing material of ancient or modern 
times, that which gave the Tyrian Purple, was obtained 
from Molluscs which are closely allied to our Purple-shell 
( Purpura lapillus). The latter shell, exceedingly abundant 
on our shores, itself yields an unchangeable rich crimson dye, 
which can easily be obtained. The expense of collecting it, 
however, is much too great to allow it to be of any commer- 
cial value. The Long Whelk ( Buccinum undatum ) also is 
said to yield a dye. 
Of minor uses for shells, there are very many. Several of 
the large bivalves, notably the Scallops and the great Sea- 
clam ( Mactra) are used by fishermen’s wives and others for 
dishes. The Acadian Indians made their pottery in part 
from powdered shells, and no doubt made much use of them 
as household utensils. Oyster shells are frequently used for 
road-making in the United States, and of course could be so 
utilized with us. They are said to be among the best of 
materials for this purpose. In the United States, shells of 
various kinds, chiefly Oyster and Scallop, are strewn upon the 
oyster-beds to give a clean firm surface for the young to 
attach themselves to. Oyster-shells are also ground up to be 
