Читать книгу The Book of Shells. Containing the Classes Mollusca, Conchifera, Cirrhipeda, Annulata, and Crustacea онлайн

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In modern times several attempts have been made to obtain this dye; but the discovery of cochineal has rendered it a matter of little import.

In the year 1683, Mr. William Cole, of Bristol, being at Minehead, was told of a person living at a seaport in Ireland, who had made considerable gain by marking with a delicate and durable crimson colour, fine linen that was sent to him for that purpose, and that this colour was made from some liquid substance taken from a shell-fish. Mr. Cole, being a lover of natural history, and having his curiosity thus excited, went in search of these shell-fish, and, after trying various kinds without success, he, at length, found considerable quantities of a species of buccinum on the sea-coasts of Somersetshire, and the opposite coasts of South Wales. After many ineffectual endeavours, he discovered the colouring-matter, placed in a white vein, lying transversely in a little furrow, or cleft, next to the head of the fish, “which,” says he, “must be digged out with the stiff point of a horse-hair pencil, made short and tapering, by reason of the viscous clamminess of the white liquor in the vein, that so by its stiffness it may drive in the matter into the fine linen or white silk intended to be marked.” Letters or marks, made in this way, with the white liquor in question, “will presently appear of a pleasant green colour, and, if placed in the sun, will change into the following colours,—that is, if in Winter, about noon, if in the Summer, an hour or two after sunrise, or so much before setting, (for in the heat of the day, in Summer, the colours will come so fast that the succession of each will scarce be distinguishable,) next to the first light green will appear a deep green, and in a few minutes this will change into a full sea-green, after which, in a few minutes more, it will alter into a watchet blue, and from that, in a little time more, it will be of a purplish red, after which, lying an hour or two, (supposing the sun still shining,) it will be of a very deep purple red, beyond which the sun can do no more.”