OSTREA. 201 



with a magnifier, is found to be sculptured with microscopic lines, 

 which curve from the centre towards the sides without reference to 

 the ribs, the posterior one slightly emarginate. Color, a dusky red. 

 I have seen only one valve, which differs from any shell hitherto 

 described, but the characters of the entire shell are of course in- 

 complete. Length, nine thirty-seconds of an inch ; breadth, seven 

 thirty-seconds of an inch. ( Gould in Sillim. Journal.) 



Family OSTREIDyE. 



Shell irregular, foliated, sometimes paper-like ; ligament inter- 

 nal or partly internal. 



Genus OSTREA, Lin. 1758. 



Shell very irregular, inequivalve, the larger one adhering, the 

 smaller moving forwards as the shell advances in age, and leaving 

 a lengthening groove for the ligament exposed along the beak of 

 the adhering valve. 



The Oyster varies in surface and shape so much, according to 

 the position in wliich it lies during growth, that it is not only im- 

 possible to give any description which shall delineate the various 

 transformations it may undergo, but it is also very difficult to desig- 

 nate the limits of species. Lamarck indicates three species belong- 

 ing to this coast ; but it is very doubtful whether, in reality, there 

 are even two. 



It is also a question on which there are various opinions, whether 

 the oyster was indigenous in Massachusetts Bay ; or whether all 

 which grow in the various oyster-beds owe their parentage to inhab- 

 itants of the Delaware, Chesapeake, and Oyster Bays, &c. That 

 they now grow spontaneously, and, for aught we can learn, always 

 have grown so, on the south shore, there is no reason to doubt. 

 And that they are occasionally found of patriarchal appearance, in 

 all parts of our bay, is certainly true. But the question is, whether 

 these places are their natural habitat, or whether they have been 

 accidentally dropped where they were found. Many incline to this 

 latter opinion, especially the younger oystermen, and some scien- 

 tific gentlemen. But the old settlers of Cape Cod are of a different 

 opinion. They say that Wellfleet, where the Southern oysters are 

 planted for Boston use, was originally called Billingsgate, on account 



