THE STRUCTURE OF THE OYSTER. 83 



of water that came in contact with its delicate gills, yielded 

 its imprisoned air to freshen and invigorate the little 

 creature's blood. 



In another respect, as certainly, the most exquisite of 

 minute machines can bear no comparison with the oyster. 

 The watch, so small that it might be worn on a finger-ring, 

 justly demands praise for the hands that have fashioned it 

 with exquisite skill. But what would be said if it grew to 

 the size of a chronometer, maintaining throughout the 

 form of its respective parts, and all combining in continuous 

 operation the same accuracy and harmony of movement ? 

 Yet the oyster thus grew : so small at first, that two million 

 such beings would occupy only a single square inch ; in 

 six months it would cover half-a-cro\vn, and in twelve a 

 crown piece. 



Were there only one such creature, what a marvel it 

 would be ! Is it less amazing because the oyster was only 

 a unit among countless millions ? Other wonders, however, 

 remain to be narrated. (-#) 



(h] " Adventures of an Oyster," pp. 28-30. 



