Class VI. OSTREA. OYSTER. 2£5 



GENUS XV. OSTREA. OYSTER. 



Animal, a Tethys. 



Shell inequivalve. rough with imbricated 

 scales. 



Lin. Syst. 1148. No. 211. List. Angi. ial.iv. jig. 2$. ^ edulis, 



GW. Zitt. 3334. Z.MJ. 7V. viii. 101. eiii/e. 



JFaww. Suec. No. 2140. Mom*. 7W. Br. 151. 



O. commonly of an orbicular form, and very 

 rugged. A description of so well known a 

 shell is needless. Varies in size in different 

 places. Figured with an Anomia (A.) on it. 

 Tab. lxv. Jig. 2. 



Britain has been noted for oysters from the 

 time of Juvenal* who satyrizing an epicure 3 

 says, 



Circceis nata forent, an 

 Lucrinum ad Saxum, Rutupinove edita ftmdo, 

 Ostrea, callebat primo deprendere morsu.- 



He, whether Circe s rock his oysters bore, 



Or Lucrine lake, or distant Richborougli s shore, 



Knew at first taste. 



The luxurious Romans were very fond of this 

 fish, and had their layers or stews for oysters, 



* Satyr, iv. V. 140. 

 VOL. IV. Q 



