THE OYSTER AND THE DOCTOR. 333 



eral description. Exterior; aristocratic -looking, flat, 

 light shell, convex and delicately ridged from beak to 

 margin. Interior ; white adductor muscle mark. Easy 

 to open. Flavour ; very sweet, delicate and delicious. 

 Evidently the same as Whitstable Natives. 



2. DUTCH NATIVES. Born, bred and fattened in 

 Holland, and imported from Holland direct to London. 

 Average size ; zf inches broad, 3 inches long. Shape ; 

 nearly crescentic. General description. Exterior ; rather 

 heavier-looking than the last variety ; top shell nearly flat ; 

 convex shell has ridges radiating from hinge. Interior ; 

 white adductor muscle mark, fish rather yellowish. Easy 

 to open. Flavour ; not very decided, or, not quite so 

 delicate as the last variety ; certainly sweet and appe- 

 tizing. 



3. VICTORIAS. Born and bred at Le Chateau ; fat- 

 tened in England. Average size ; 3^- inches broad ; 3^ 

 inches long. Shape, crescentic. General description. 

 Exterior ; an aristocratic, compact-looking oyster ; flat 

 shell, nearlv smooth ; convex shell delicatelv furrowed but 



j j 



less marked than the Royal Native. Interior ; white 

 adductor muscle mark ; plump fish ; shell well filled. 

 Easy to open. Flavour : sharply-fresh, delicate, melts in 

 the mouth, unequalled. Is all what an oyster should be, 

 (i.e.) sweet, sharp, luscious, appetizing, and, in my opinion 

 carries the palm. Le Chateau is situated in the Isle of 

 Oleron, on the Western Coast of France. 



4. OPORTOS. Imported from America and fattened 

 in England. They are really American oysters. Average 

 size ; 3f inches long, zf inches broad. Another, 4f- 

 inches long, 3 inches broad. , Shape ; beak-shaped, curved 

 on the flat. General description. Exterior : rather rough 



