Chap. 71 ] T1IF. VAIIIOUS KINDS OF OYSTERS. 27 



Lake Lucrirnis.** Thus much with reference to the meat of 

 the oyster; we will now turn to the various countries which 

 produce it, so that no coast may be deprived of the honours 

 which properly belong to it. l>ut in giving this description 

 we will speak in the language of another, using the words of 

 a writer who lias evinced more careful discernment in treating 

 of this subject than any of the other authors of our day. 

 These- then are the words of Mucianus, in reference to the 

 oyster: "The oysters of Cyzieus* are larger than those of 

 Lake Lucrinus,* 1 ' fresher' 7 than those of the liritish coasts,** 

 sweeter^ than those of Mcduhu, 70 more tasty 71 than those of 

 Kphesus, more plump than those of Lucus, 72 less slimy than 

 those of Coryphas, 73 more delicate than those of Istria, 74 and 

 whiter than those of Cirecii." 7 * For all thin, however, it is a 

 fact well ascertained that there are no oysters fresher or more 

 dflicato than those of Cireeii, last mentioned. 



According to the historians of the expedition of Alexander, 

 there were oysters found in the Indian Sea a foot 78 in diameter: 

 among ourselves, too, the nomenclature of some spendthrift 

 and gourmand has found for certain oysters the name of "tri- 

 dacna," 77 wishing it to be understood thereby, that they are so 

 large as to require three bites in eating them. AVe will 

 take the present opportunity of stating all the medicinal pro- 

 perties that are attributed to oysters. They are singularly 

 refreshing 711 to the stomach, and tend to restore the appetite. 

 Luxury, too, has imparted to them an additional coolness 

 by burying them in snow, thus making a medley of the 



65 Sec B. ix. c. 70. Sec B. v. c. 40. 



w ' See B. iii. c. 9. 67 ' Dulcioni." 



M Those of Jtutupro, the present Richboroiigh in Kent, were highly 

 esteemed by the Romans, See Juvenal, Sat. 4. 1. 141. 

 ** 4t Suavionu" 



70 The district in the vicinity of Bordeaux, now called Mciloc. The 

 oysters of M< dul;i are mentioned in U rm of praise by Ausouius, 



vli. and Epiht. cxliii. 71 "Acriora." 



" 2 Src U. iii. c. 4. 73 See H. v. c. 32. 



71 Sec B. iii. c. 23. "* See B. iii. c. 9. 



76 They probably pave the name of u oyster" to some other 

 of larjje si/.e. In Cook's Voyages we read of cockles in the Pacific, which 

 two ijit.-n were unable to carry. 



:7 From rpig, *' tlirice," and oatcvu;, " to bite." 



79 AjiiRson remarks that many persons are unable to digest oysters, in 

 an uncooked state. 



