68 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



But the funniest thing of all was told me by an 

 oyster, who said his grandfather had heard a 

 fisherman say that sometimes the meats of oysters 

 are mixed with cracker-crumbs and butter and 

 baked in large scallop-shells, and so when they 

 are brought to the table they are called escalloped 

 oysters. 



And he said, too, that lately the cooks leave out 

 the shells (for which I am very thankful), but 

 keep the name, though somewhat shortened, and 

 so they are called " scalloped oysters," even if they 

 are baked in an earthen dish. And a sea-gull 

 once told me that he had seen shells like ours 

 carved in marble or fine wood and used for beau- 

 tiful decorations. 



I feel that I am growing old, and that in a little 

 time nothing but my shells will be left; so I have 

 been asking carefully about my ancestors and my 

 kindred, for I want to know who have gone be- 

 fore me. 



I find that my family is a very old one, and 

 that we have colonies all over the world. Our 

 flesh has ahvays been esteemed a delicacy, and our 

 shells have been much admired by men. But, 

 better than that, I find that we, and a very few of 

 our near relatives, are the only bivalves in the 

 ocean that have the power to swim freely when- 

 ever they choose. 



