124 EDIBLE OTSTERS FOUND ON THE AUSTEALIAN COAST, 



But it must not be supposed that, because we liave bad tbese 

 fifteen species diagnosed and recorded as coming from our 

 coast, that therefore, there really are fifteen species found here, 

 the diagnosis made of these species has been very imperfect, 

 and in most instances very incorrect. I propose therefore, to 

 give what I consider a correct list of species which have 

 been more recently determined as having been found here, at the 

 same time to assist those who are engaged in studying our Oysters 

 scientifically or commercially, to give the diagnostic characters of 

 each species, and shall begin with those that are found on the 

 coast of New South Wales proper ; they are : 



1 . Ostrea Angasi, Sowerby ; our Mud Oyster, 



2. ,, suitrigona, Soyverhy ; our Drift Oyster. 



3. ,, gIo)?ie)'ata, Gould ; our Kock Oyster. 



4. ,, circumsuta, Gould ; a rare species. 



5. ,, virescens, AngsiS', also a rare species. 



The two last are of no commercial value, being very rare, of 

 small size and difiB.cult to remove perfectly from the rocks to 

 which they are attached. 



1. Ostrea Angasi, Sowerhy. 



'' Shell large, compressed, roundly subtrigonal, cinereous, a 

 little purple towards the margin, inequi-valve, white within ; 

 lower valve thick, ribbed, its margin expanded, fluted, with bluish 

 border ; upper valve depressed, armed with broad, thin, smooth 

 scales fluted towards the margin ; muscular impression large in 

 both valves." 



The above is Sowerby's original description of this species as 

 given in Reeve's Conch. Icon. An excellent figure of this species 

 is given in Vol. xviii of Reeve's Conchologia Iconica, Mon. Ostrea 

 plate xiii., Sp. 27, fig. 28, by mistake, it should be fig. 27. 



This is the Mud Oyster found in Port Jackson and near the 

 mouths of our rivers and harbours emptying themselves on the 



