“ Those in No. 2. had been in my possession for many 
months, and had lost their purple fluid in a great measure. 
I am not even certain that they are the same species as 
No. 1.* They are sent to you for an accurate examina- 
tion. I can readily believe that the Tyrian purple dye was 
first discovered by a dog eating a fish on the sea-shore, 
which tinged his mouth of so beautiful a colour as to excite 
curiosity how it originated. The fish which is now sent 
you, when in the surf of the sea, appears so like the liver 
of a bullock, that a dog might easily mistake it for that 
viscus.” 
We do not know why Pennant has made the generic name 
begin with an L, as we suspect that the name is derived 
from the Greek word Attain rla, signifying immundities, illotus, 
from its being unwholesome or filthy. Turton has made it 
Laplisia. 
* We think they may be the same species in a different state of growth; 
the small ones, No. 2 , however, are brown with dark spots. We want 
more light on the subject. 
