ORDER, UNIMUSCULOS.V 



65 



deep. These shells are more frerjueiitly found in the 

 same places as the oyster, and very commonly attached 

 to the shell of the hitter; as an article of food, the Ano- 

 mia is of little or no value. Its organization and manner 

 of livin<j^ are much the same as those of the oyster. 



Anoiuia rploppinm. lAnotnia, a little bowl ; cpMppium, a horse's foot,] 



The most singular part of its construction consists in 

 the use made of one of the muscles with which it is fur 

 nished, which, instead of heing attached to llie shell, is 

 fixed to a solid piece of shelly substance, in the form of 

 a cone with the top cut off; this operculum, or lid^ 

 closes a singular opening in one of the valves of the sliell 

 itself. The animal adheres to the rock, or other sub 

 stance, by means of this lid, and is detached with great 

 difficulty. 



The Oyster, (Ostrea edulis.) 



Oysters, like all other creatures that have been des 

 tined to become food for man, are Ibund in great ab ui- 

 dance in most parts of the globe; they arj inhabita :ts 

 of salt waters only, and are always found in rocky ground, 

 in no great depth from the surlace. 



Oysters generally cast their spat, or spawn, in the 



