Some "Shell-fishes? 151 



love. And it is a fact that, in spite of classical traditions 

 as to the excellence of the creature as food, our ancestors 

 held the oyster in disrepute. "Not worth an oyster," was 

 a common saying in Chaucer's time, and the Sompnere 

 expects sympathy from his audience inasmuch as he was 

 driven to such straits for food that he actually had to eat 

 oysters. " For many a muscle and many an oistre, When 

 other men have been ful wel at ese, Hath been our food." 

 Nowadays but little sympathy, I imagine, would attach to 

 a Londoner compelled by circumstances to an occasional 

 oyster diet. 



Drayton mantains the excellence of the native : 



" Thinke you our oysters here unworthy of your praise, 

 Pure Wall Fleet which doe still the daintiest pallats please, 

 As excellent as those which are esteemed most." 



We have all read how it was a tradition, and not so very 

 long ago, that barnacle-geese were bred from the barnacle. 

 Says Butler, " As barnacles turn Soland geese, in the islands 

 of the Orcades." 



" Whereas those scattered trees, which naturally partake 

 The fatness of the soyle, send from the stocky bough 

 A soft and sappy gum, from which these geese do grow 

 Called barnacles by us, which like a jelly fish 

 To the beholder seeme, then by the fluxure moist 

 Still great, and greater thrive untill you well may see 

 Them turn'd to perfect fowles, when dropping from the tree 

 Into the meery pond, which under them doth lye, 

 Wax ripe, and taking wing away in flocke doe flye, 

 Which well the ancients did among our wonders plaie." 



