252 INTRODUCTION TO CONCHOLOGY. 



The Tree Oyster, on the contrary, attaches himself to the 

 roots and branches of mangroves, as a place of refuge and 

 security. Some persons affect to treat this statement as 

 one of uncertain origin, but the solution is by no means 

 difficult. In hot countries a great variety of shrubs and 

 trees grow on river-banks, and even along the shore, espe- 

 cially in such places as are screened from the agitation of 

 the waves. The sheltered recesses of bays and harbours 

 are, therefore, often filled with abundance of lofty man- 

 groves, which grow up from the shallow bottom, and pre- 

 sent the beautiful appearance of marine forests. Wherever 

 they appear on the sea-shore, the beach is not only covered 

 with an infinite number of different insects — feeble beings 

 which love the shade, — but also with mollusks, that hasten 

 to shelter themselves from the violence of the waves, amid 

 the scaffolding of thick and intertwining roots, which rise like 

 lattice-work above the surface of the water, or the branches 

 that dip into it. And to these the parasitic Oysters attach 

 themselves in such numbers, that a loaded branch, when cut 

 off, is too heavy-for one person to carry. The loaded branch 

 is then washed, and brought to table, where it forms a 

 favourite appendage at the banquets of the rich ; for the 

 glowing tints which are so liberally imparted to the birds 



