On the Economical Uses of some species of Testacea. 247 
In 1768, Mr. John Canton discovered that a yery good phospho- 
rus* could be made from oyster shells. He added a little sulphur 
to them, and by calcination produced the substance. A long ac- 
count of the process and his experiments is given in the Philosoph- 
ical Transactions of that year. The French have a proverb drawn 
from this animal, which they apply to an awkward person, “ il parle 
ou joue, &c. comme une huitre a Vécaille.” 
Besides these, oysters are found in most countries ; the following 
are a few of the species. 
The West Indies have, according to Hughes, two oysters, a large 
one in deep water, which is seldom eaten, and the mangrove oyster, 
which adheres to the roots of the trees in the wash of the tide, 
whence the old fable of oysters growing on trees. The same are 
found in Sumatra, where we are told that they are by no means so 
good as those of Europe.t Round the shores of New South Wales 
oysters are extremely plentiful, and though generally small, are of 
delicate flavor. Every rock is covered with them, and Mr. Martyn 
informs us he has seen parties of young ladies, with smal] hammers, 
seated on a large rock and feasting with great goit on these dain- 
ties.§ In Southern Africa the oysters of Mossel Bay are much cel- 
ebrated, and their flavor considered so fine, that epicures have been 
induced to visit the bay from Cape Town, (Cape of Good Hope,) 
for the express purpose of enjoying a feast of them. The distance 
is about three hundred miles, so that they ought to be good to repay 
the trouble.|| ) 
X. Osrrea Scapra, (Linn.)—Scaly Oyster. 
This is an inhabitant of the Bahama islands, where it is eaten. It 
is occasionally to be met with in the Philadelphia markets for 
same purpose. 
* So called from its emitting light in the dark after exposure to the sun’s rays.— 
Ep. 
+ Incompiling this article, the following works are those which have vain 
been referred to and quoted from:—Plin. Hist. Nat. lib. xxii. cap. vi. lib. ix 
36. Rees’ Cyclopedia, Art. Oyster. —_ lloch’s Comm. Dict. Art. a aliaibs 
Brewster’s Edinburgh Encyclop. Art. Fisneries. Encyclop. poses Appen- 
dix, Vol. viii. Art. Oyster. Postlethwaite’s Diction. "tH 6 TER. Sinelair’s 
Stat. Hist. of Scotland, Vol. i. p. 258. Vol. vi. p. 196. Vol. mt “902. Vol. xvii. 
pp. 69, 102, &c. Keppel Craven’s Tour, p. 184. Statistique generale p 
P. E. Herbin, Vol. i. p.386. Diction. de Trevoux. Philosophical ‘Transactions, 
p.l 
§ Martyn’s Hist. of the Br. Col. Vol v. p. 295. 
li Webster’s Voyage to the S. Atlantic Ocean, 1830, Vol. i. p. 223. 
