Introduction ano 



&quot;THE Oylter is a creature that perambulated! the bottom 

 of the Tea, and abforbeth nutriment from the limofity thereof&quot; 

 faith the venerable ALFREDUS in his treatife &quot;Ds PRODIGIIS;&quot; 

 and farther * It hath for its muniment and protection two 

 conches, or VALVUL^E, and therein advantageth the TESTUDO or 

 SHELL-CRAB which is mighty vulnerable between the joints of 

 his belly.&quot; It hath been moft frequently the fubjecl of in- 

 quifition and comment by learned writers, both neoterick and 

 antient ; and hath been the comfort and folacement of the 

 people of all times, and ever held in high dignity and repute. 

 This creature was known of old to the Philifbei, and to the 

 Sidonians, and to all the people that did Ikirt the MEDITER- 

 RANEUM. The Colchians alfo did fetch them from the Euxine, 

 and the Samothracians from the mores of the ^Egean. They 

 were matters of great favor and relifh (GRATI SAPORIS), it is 

 alfo reported, among the inhabitants of Cyprus, and becaufe 

 the Jews did hold them, as well as all Shell fim, as an abomina 

 tion, the Cypriots did make a law, that if any Jew mould be 

 call on their coafts, he mould be ftraightways knocked in 

 the head; which fhoweth that they did rate and repute this 

 fh even beyond the life of man. But efpecially were they 

 held in efteem among the Romans, who did beftow wondrous 



