WATERS 01 WESTERN INDIA. 81 



to haunt pretty deep water, as I get them mostly from fishing-nets 

 worked some way from shore. One reef-species about two inches 

 'ioixg is of a deep crimson ; another of the same -size pale orange j 

 and one which seldom exceeds an inch in length is cream-eolcured, 

 •with erirasoa and black markings. As a general rule, however, 

 their colours are rather dull greens and browns. 



•Of iSrucbiopeds I have got none, except dead single valves of 

 what I suppose to be a Lhigula ; but in true, or Lamellibranch 

 Bivalves, we are well off. The oysters naturally take precedence. 



Between the common eatable oyster of these parts and that of 

 ■the North Atlantic I find two principal differences — (a) that the 

 former is a deal less expensive, and (h) that, as the University has 

 not yet taken his education in hand, he cares no more for the 

 letter R than Mr. Jorrocks did for '"a haitch." He has, however-, 

 •a calendar of his own, based npou the Hindu Almanack, and ' 

 usually from the Mirgs41 to the Diwali, that is, from about June to 

 October, both •inclusive, you will do well to abstain from oysters 

 an these parts, as the fishermen do. 



This, however , is not a law of the Medes and Persians. "Whesa 

 the monsoon was late, I have been assured by the fishermen that I 

 aright safely eat oysters until there was plenty of fresh water in the 

 -sea ; and have done so, both I aiid my house, without any ill effects, 

 runtil well on in-Jazie. 



It is however necessary to take great care how the oysters are 

 kept. They should be in clean sea water, and this should tither 

 be changed at least twice a day, or still better, changed every 

 moment by the natural method, i.e., by sinking the basket 

 or other parcel of oysters in a tideway. They should always be 

 kept "this side up, with care," This side is the flat, or slightly 

 ■concave, external side, which never shows any white scar, as the 

 oyster always rests on, and moors by, the other or left valve, convex 

 externally and concave internally, so that it can retain a little 

 water. This is of the highest importance to the oyster, especially if 

 5 eft out of water by the ebb, or removed from it by violence ; and 

 an oyster turned wrong side up iu a basket or barrel is just as likely 

 to live as a man hung by the heels. Tins is the secret of oyster 

 paekiug. But in any case, tropical climates are ill-suited for the 

 transport ©f marine bivalves, and a good deal of care is necessary 

 whenever that is undertaken, and at the end of it there is always 

 a great deal of risk to tb.6 oyster and some to the man who eats him, 

 11 



