The Oyster. 81 
bile from the stomach to the liver, and may, perhaps, 
be subject to bilious attacks as well as those who 
swallow this curious piece of organization at a 
mouthful, without thinking at all of the goodly 
structure they are demolishing. There is the tiny 
heart with its series of blood-vessels, just as perfect 
as in the larger animals. There are the nerves in 
the shape of minute feelers, which appear to be 
acutely sensible not only of actual contact with 
foreign bodies, but also of sounds and movements 
from without. A very nice sense of feeling appears 
to reside in what is called the beard, in scientific 
language bissus ; this is a kind of double fringe to 
the two lobes of the mantle, or sac, as it is called, 
which envelops the body of the animal, and floats 
free from the shell, except just at the part nearer 
the valve where it is attached. 
We have just spoken of the beard of the Oyster, 
and this reminds us of a conundrum which may 
Serve to amuse our readers, and enliven these dry 
details a little. Why is an Oyster the most anomal- 
ous—that is strange, contradictory—creature in 
existence? Do you give it up? Well, then, it is 
because 
“Tt wears a beard without any chin, 
And leaves its bed to be tucked in.” 
