Mr. A. W. E. O'Shaughnessy on Green Oysters. 221 
This, therefore, is a character of the Gymnospermata which 
must be withdrawn by those who wish to retain Gnetum, 
Ephedra, or Welwitschia in the same group as the Conifers and 
Cycads. I donot; but to give my reasons for that would be to 
open another phase of the subject, which it is not my intention 
to enter upon here. 
XXXI.—On Green Oysters. By AntruurW.E.O’Suavcunessy, 
of the British Museum. 
Puiny tells us of red oysters being found in Spain, of others 
of a tawny hue in Illyricum, and of black ones at Cireeii, the 
latter being, he says, black both in meat and shell. More- 
over these black oysters seem to have borne the palm of excel- 
lence in ancient times, being mentioned by various writers, 
amongst whom we may cite Horace; and, in spite of Mucianus, 
who tries hard to puff the oysters of Cyzicus as “larger than 
those of Lake Lucrinus, fresher than those of the British coasts, 
sweeter than those of Medulle, more tasty than those of Ephesus, 
more plump than those of Lucus, less slimy than those of Cory- 
phas, more delicate than those of Istria, and whiter than those 
of Circeii,’” Pliny records it as an ascertained fact that there 
were no oysters fresher or more delicate than those of Circeil. 
So much for b/ack oysters, which we have never seen, and do 
not wish to deal with at present. Green oysters seem to be a 
more modern invention, and, as far as we can learn, are in many 
cases thoroughbred “ young natives”—that is, Britishers, which 
appear to have made a rather unfavourable impression on the 
palates of our neighbours across the channel. 
Some time ago a considerable excitement was created in 
France by the story of certain luckless individuals, who, having 
eaten of poisonous green oysters in the market at Rochefort, 
suffered accordingly. Upon inquiry, it was found that these 
oysters came from Marennes, on the west coast of France. 
Now Marennes has long been famous for green oysters; but, 
by the united exertions of the mayor of Marennes and his se- 
eretary, M. Bourricaud, the fact was elicited that poisonous green 
oysters came from Falmouth, in Cornwall. In a letter to the 
‘Moniteur,’ on this subject, M. Bourricaud showed how “ the 
enormously increased demand for the green oysters of Marennes, 
so justly renowned for their delicacy, had rendered the oyster- 
banks of that coast insufficient to supply the beds”—how, under 
these circumstances, it had become necessary to have recourse 
to Spain, Brittany, England, and Ireland—and how the young 
natives from Falmouth were not deemed presentable until they 
