3 
OysTERs, muscles, clams, or limpets 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, lest the shell 
should be chipped or broken: but the former 
method is preferable, since the shell opens spon- 
taneously, when in boiling water. The same 
care should be taken in separating limpets from 
the rocks, for the least chipping renders them 
little esteemed. 
THIs operation being performed, the shells 
should be immediately rinsed and stowed away, 
without any further attempts at cleaning or po- 
lishing. The epidermis forms a principal char- 
acter, and should on no account be removed; 
the perfection of a shell depends on its being in 
its natural state. 
MAny shells are so extremely beautiful, that 
few persons can resist the temptation of hand- 
