After a few minutes, tlie shell should be ta- 

 ken out, and put into a bucket of cold wa- 

 ter; the animal will then shrink, and may ge- 

 nerally be shaken from the shell : but if it should 

 still adhere, it may be pulled out with a crooked 

 pin or hook, great care being taken not to in- 

 jure the mouth, which is commonly the most 

 tender part of the shell. 



Oysters, muscles, clams, or Umpets, may be 

 treated in the same way; or they may be opened 

 with a knife, and the animal cut out, which must 

 be done very gently, least the shell should be 

 chipped or broken: but the former method is 

 preferable, since the shell opens of itself, when 

 in boiling water. The same care should be ta- 

 ken in separating limpets from the rocks, for 

 the least chipping renders them but little es- 

 teemed. 



This operation being performed, the shells 

 should be immediately rinsed and stowed awav; 



