Class VI. OSTREA. OYSTER. 329 



they put into pits about three feet deep in the 

 salt-marshes, which are overflowed only at 

 spring-tides, to which they have sluces, and 

 let out the sault-water until it is about a foot 

 and half deep. 



' These pits, from some quality in the soil 

 co-operating with the heat of the sun, will 

 become green, and communicate their colour 

 to the oysters that are put into them in four 

 or five days, though they commonly let them 

 continue there six weeks or two months, in 

 which time they will be of a dark green. 

 ' To prove that the sun operates in the 

 greening, Tolesbury pits will green only in 

 summer ; but that the earth hath the greater 

 power, Brickel-Sea pits green both winter 

 and summer : and for a further proof, a pit 

 within a foot of a greening-pit will not green ; 

 and those that did green very well, will in 

 time lose their quality. 

 ' The oysters, when the tide comes in, lie 

 with their hollow shell downwards, and when 

 it goes out, they turn on the other side ; they 

 remove not from their place, unless in cold 

 weather, to cover themselves in the ouse. 

 ' The reason of the scarcity of oysters, and 

 consequently of their dearness, is, because 

 they are of late years bought up by the Dutch, 



