332 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



demand for the purpose of comparing one with another. 

 My request was most kindly complied with, and attended 

 to with courteous promptitude, together with very service- 

 able hints relating to the oysters in question ; for all which 

 I take this opportunity of acknowledging the said com- 

 pany's favours, and thanking them for their kind assistance. 

 Well, when the oysters arrived, my wife and I, and 

 several friends were prepared to receive them with all the 

 hilarity befitting the occasion. We examined them criti- 

 cally, discoursing the while most learnedly upon their 

 merits, their history, their anatomy, &c., &c., and, for the 

 reader's benefit agreed upon the following opinions with 

 regard to the average size, shape, growth, external and 

 internal description, if easy or hard to open, and lastly, 

 but not least the flavour. These and other particulars I 

 will endeavour to convey to the reader's comprehension 

 in order that the whole may form a guide to his selection, 

 and an answer to the question What to buy ? 



Before giving these interesting items of information 

 I wish to draw the reader's attention to a very important 

 one sent me by the above-named Company. 



"It is generally known that when a foreign oyster is ' 

 relaid in English waters, a very great improvement is 

 plainly discernible in its appearance after a four months' 

 sojourn, but comparatively few are aware that this improve- 

 ment is gained at a loss not only of its native shape, but 

 likewise (and especially so) of its taste." How this happens 

 I know not. But here is the List giving all necessary 

 details to aid the reader's taste and selection. 



i. ROYAL NATIVES. Born and bred in Brittany 

 (France) ; fattened in English waters. Average size ; i^ 

 x zj inches. Shape ; crescentic, nice looking. Gen- 



