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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



notion, which, in the main, is correct, the spawning-season of the 

 oyster embraces those months which have no r in their spelling, name- 

 ly, May, June, July, and August, the four warm months of the year. 

 The fact is, that oysters generally do their spawning during these four 

 months ; but a few are liable to spawn whenever the water is warm 

 enough, and large numbers pass through the year without spawning ; 

 and these, were it not for the difficulty of assorting them, would be 

 available for food at any time. But the prejudice is universal against 



Fiq. 1. Groups of Ettbopean Oysters, of Different Ages, on a Stick of Wood. 



their use during the r-less months. That they are not in as good con- 

 dition then as during the cooler months, is reasonable to suppose ; but 

 that they are all necessarily unwholesome in the warm months, is far 

 from being proved. In business phrase, oysters in spawning-time are 

 said to be " milky." This means the presence of an opaline fluid in 

 considerable abundance, and which has to do with the wants of its 



