168 OTSTER, MUSCLE. 



They are salted and pickled for commerce ; and are much 

 used for sauce, the bones having been dissolved by boiling. 

 It is usually about four inches in length ; of a dusky-green 

 colour, somewhat transparent. 



THE EATABLE OYSTER 



Is a pretty universal inhabitant of the globe, and is well 

 known as an agreeable and wholesome food. The Oysters 

 cast their spawn on the rocks or stones around them, and 

 each egg adheres to the spot where it falls : at first it 

 resembles a drop of candle-grease of a greenish hue. The 

 Oyster has a set of muscles, admirable in their contri- 

 vance, by which it opens and closes its shell at pleasure. 

 It breathes by means of gills. Oysters are procured by 

 means of nets furnished with an iron scraper. They are 

 suffered to lie in pits for some time before they are taken 

 to market. The coasts of Britain abound with excellent 

 Oysters of various species. The most esteemed are those 

 from the neighbourhood of Colchester, in Essex. Many 

 severe laws exist for preserving the oyster-beda in their 

 full perfection. 



THE SCALLOP 



Resembles the Oyster in the form of its hinge, but the 

 inhabiting animal differs materially. It has the power of 

 progressive motion both by land and water. If Jeft on the 

 shore by the tide, it opens its shell widely, and shutting it 

 again with a sudden jirk, it throws itself forward, and so 

 on till it reaches the sea. When the sea is calm, the 

 Scallops assemble in troops, and raising the upper valve 

 of their shells, they float along the surface ; on the ap- 

 proach of danger they close their shells and sink to the 

 bottom. 



THE MUSCLE 



Is very important as containing the Pearl-musclej the 

 chief producer of the mother-of-pearl, and pearls. The 



