136 LNVERTEBRATA OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



transformations it may undergo, but it is also very difficult to de- 

 signate the limits of species. Lamarck indicates three species 

 belonging to this coast ; but it is very doubtful whether, in re- 

 ality, there are even two. 



It is also a question on which there are various opinions, 

 whether the oyster was indigenous in Massachusetts Bay ; or 

 whelher all which grow in the various oyster-beds owe their 

 parentage to inhabitants of the Delaware, Chesapeake, and Oyster 

 Bays, &c. That they now grow spontaneously, and, for aught 

 we can learn, always have grown so, on the south shore, there is 

 no reason to doubt. And that they are occasionally found of 

 patiiarchal appearance, in all parts of our Bay, is certainly true. 

 Bui the question is, whether these places are their natural habitat, 

 or whelher they have been accidentally dropped where they were 

 found. Many incline to this latter opinion, especially the younger 

 oyster-men, and some scientific gentlemen. But the old settlers 

 of Cape Cod are of a different opinion. They say that Well- 

 fleet, where the southern oysters are planted for Boston use, was 

 originally called Billingsgate, on account of the abundance offish, 

 and especially of oysters, found there ; that they continued to be 

 abundant until about the year 1780, when from some cause they 

 all died ; and, to this day, immense beds are shown there, of 

 shells of native oysters which perished at that time. They say, 

 ihat, before that time, no such thing was thought of, as bringing 

 oysters from the south. 



O'STREA ViRGINIa'NA. 



Shell elongated, narrow : beaks pointed, not much curved ; 

 ligamentary eminence of the xipper valve extending back to the 

 apex. 



State Coll., No. 148. Soc. Cab., No. 2350. 



O'strea Virginiana, Lister ; Conc/t., I. 200, f. 34. Favanne ; Conch., pi. il, f. C. 



2. Klein; Tentam., 122. Sowerbv; Genera of Shells, C. 2. 

 O'strea Virginica, Gmelin ; Syst., 3336. No. 1K5. Dii.lwyn ; Catal., i. 277. 



Lam.; Jin. sans Vert., vii. 225. Wood; Index, pi. 11, f. C8. Deshayes ; 



Encyc. Milh., Vers, ii. pi. 179, 1 and 2. 

 Grand Huitre de la Virginie, Davila ; Catal., 290, No. G13. 

 Virginia Rock-oyster, Petiver ; Gazophyt., 1. 105, f. 3. 



