THE ZooLocist—JUNE, 1876. 4941 
the more massive Alcyonium digitatum, the sponge-like egg-cap- 
sules of the whelk, and other substances, are almost invariably 
attached to the convex valve, which could not possibly occur unless 
this was the upper or outer one. During dredging operations 
individuals no doubt occasionally get overturned, so that these 
parasitic growths make their appearance on the reverse side, and 
may be afterwards caught and so brought to market. These 
exceptions are, however, of rare occurrence, and we might almost 
as reasonably anticipate that soles, turbot and other flat fish rested 
with their convex surface applied to the ground as that such a rule 
obtains with the oyster. 
W. SavILue- KeEnr. 
Aquarium, Great Yarmouth, April 3, 1876. 
(The question of sex in oysters has long been one of great interest to 
physiologists and naturalists—I do not consider the words perfectly synony- 
mous—and the propounding of any new, or unexpected, or revived opinion 
would be sure at any time to provoke considerable discussion, or indeed 
altercation: as I cannot therefore consider it settled in the negative merely 
because Dr. Bree and Mr. Saunders, in the following letters to the Editor 
of the ‘ Field,’ express such decided opinions, I will for the present suspend 
any judgment I may have in the matter.—Hdward Newman.] 
Srr,—Mr. Lloyd has satisfactorily answered Mr. Saville-Kent’s 
astounding statement that the “ five-fingers” did not feed upon 
oysters. If you will grant mea short space, I will show that his 
statements, or surmises, in his letter of last week, are equally 
unfounded. 
Some years ago I made the propagation of the oyster my especial 
study, and the facts I relate may be relied upon as true. I will not 
discuss here the question whether the oyster is self-fertilising or 
whether the sexes are distinct. All naturalists with whom I am 
acquainted are believers in the former doctrine, and so am I, 
although I at the present moment have no positive data upon 
which to speak more positively. 
Let us follow the history of the oyster after the eggs are emitted 
by their parent—-that stage termed by oyster merchants and their 
men as “white sick.” If an oyster is examined in this condition, 
it will be found to contain a vast number of eggs of a cream colour. 
Mr. Eyton (see his book upon oysters) found one grain to contain 
SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2E 
