MOLLUSCA, 35 
circumstances are so enormous as to be utterly 
incredible. The Illyrian snails were most esteemed 
for their size, and Pliny informs us that it was a 
matter of emulation among the amateur snail-feeders 
of that day to excel each other in the bulk to which 
their pets should attain; vaunting their most pro- 
digious specimens, as prize pigs and oxen are boasted 
of among ourselves: “ And in time men grew to 
take such a pride and glory in this artificial feat, 
namely, in striving who should have the biggest, 
that in the end one of their shells ordinarily would 
contain eighty measures called quadrants.” * 
Our continental neighbours still enjoy a dish of 
snails, and several attempts have been, from time 
to time, made to introduce them at English tables, 
but with very little success. 
But among all the edible Mollusca, there is 
none that can compete with the Oyster. To speak 
of the universality of the esteem would be super- 
fluous ; but some statistical particulars may not be 
uninteresting, as showing the importance of this 
shell-fish in a commercial view. “The number 
of vessels immediately employed in the dredging 
for oysters on the Essex coast are about 200, from 
twelve to forty or fifty tons burden each, employing 
from 400 to 500 men and boys. The quantity of 
oysters bred, and taken, and consumed annually, 
mostly in London, is supposed to amount to 14,000 
or 15,000 bushels. All the fisheries connected 
with this part of the coast, are stated to employ a 
capital supposed to amount to from £60,000 to 
£80,000.” T 
It is, however, not only as supplying food that the 
* Holland’s Pliny, vol. i. p. 267. 
+ Encyc. Brit. Supp. vol. iv. p. 269. 
