NATURAL HISTORY. 419 



we find that our " Native Oysters" were exported to Rome, and 

 there placed in the Lucrine Lake, where they were fattened. 



On our coasts the oysters breed in large beds, to which vast 

 quantities of young oysters are conveyed by the fishermen, and 

 suffered to increase without molestation. Newly-formed beds 

 are untouched for two or three years. During the months of 

 May, June, and July,* the oysters breed, and are considered 

 unfit for food. At this time the young, called " spat," are 

 deposited in enormous numbers. They instantly adhere to the 

 substance among which they fall ; and this, whatever it be, is 

 called " cultch," and is protected by severe penalties. About 

 May the fishermen separate the spawn from the cultch, which 

 is then thrown back into its former place. After May it is 

 felony to disturb the cultch, as were it removed, mussels and 

 cockles would rapidly take the place of the oysters. 



The oysters are taken in the proper season by the " dredge," 

 a kind of small net fastened round an iron frame- work, which 

 scoops up the oysters and many other marine animals. 



The part of the Oyster called the " beard," is in reality the 

 respiratory apparatus. 



THE PEARL OYSTER. 



The Pearl Oyster is the animal from which those highly- 

 valued ornaments, pearls, are extracted. The pearl is nothing 

 more than " nacre," deposited in the shape of globular drops 

 instead of being spread over the inner surface of the shell, in 

 which case it is known as Mother-of-pearl. 



These valuable shells are found both in the Old and New 

 World. Ceylon is very famous for its pearl fisheries. The 

 fishermen are trained to remain a long time under water, and 

 assisted in their descent to the bottom of the sea by a heavy 

 weight tied to their feet. They rapidly gather all the Pearl 

 Oysters in their way into a basket, and when in want of air, 

 give a signal to their friends above, who draw them to the 

 surface by a rope. The Oysters are then left to putrefy for 

 some weeks, when they are carefully washed, and the pearls 

 extracted. 



* Most people are acquainted with the proverb, that oysters are in season d!:r;r:;' 

 the months in which is the letter R. 



