38 LIVING CREATURES. 



circular floor of stones, perhaps ten feet in diameter, 

 is laid on the beach. On this a fire is kindled and 

 fed until the stones are red hot. A layer of sea-weed 

 is spread on the stones, and upon this clams are placed 

 to a depth of two or three inches. Over these is scat- 

 tered another cover of sea-weed. Then comes a layer 

 of green corn in the husk, with potatoes and other 

 vegetables. After more sea-weed, dressed chickens 

 are added to the pile, and are often followed in the 

 same manner by oysters and lobsters. To make the 

 cooking more thorough and toothsome, a canvas or 

 tarpaulin, is stretched over the steaming heap. 



8. THE OYSTER. 



WHEN the oyster is laid open and placed by the side 

 of the clam or mussel, it is at once seen that the two 

 are in many points alike, and deserve to be called cous- 

 ins. The shell of the oyster is bivalve a book with 

 two covers and has the elastic ligament inside the 

 hinge to spring it open. Its shingly growth is readily 

 observed, but it is a rough, ugly looking shell. It 

 grows narrow near the hinge, and the left valve, from 

 holding fast to the sea-bottom, is much larger than the 

 right valve. 



On the inside of the clam shell were pointed out 

 two spots, one at each end near the back, where were 

 attached the two strong adductor muscles which close 

 the shell. On the white lining of the oyster shell but 

 one such spot appears. It is of a dark purple color, 



