XIV. — OYSTER ENEMIES. 

 The shells in the corner of the plate are those of the oyster borer, or the 

 Purpura. These are found in all of the more saline waters where oysters are 

 raised. Their egg capsules are more or less abundant, attached to stationary 

 objects, as piles, and rocks laid out for jetties. Aside from the drum-fish they 

 are the worst enemies of the oyster that are found in the state. The two mid- 

 dle shells are those of the so-called Penny- or Perry-winkle. These will only 

 attack the very young oyster, and even then not to any great extent. The 

 hole that they bore can always be detected from that of the Purpura, in that 

 it is decidedly beveled. 



