200 OYSTER CULTURE. 
organs appear ; the heart reveals itself and begins to beat ; 
all the functions necessary for existence are set in motion 
in good working order; and if fortunately placed for 
obtaining infusorial and vegetable nourishment, in three 
or four years this embryo “Cove” or “Millpond” or 
“Shrewsbury” will become a delicate mouthful for the 
consumer 
Though there are many other enemies of the modest 
and inoffensive oyster, there are three which are specially 
feared, and cause the greatest loss to the planter in Amer- 
ican waters, namely, the “Starfish” (Asterias arenicola 
Stimpson), the “Drill” (Buccinum plicosum. Gould), and 
the “Winkles” (Pyrula canaliculata and P. carica). 
All are familiar with the appearance of the Starfish, 
though few, even of old oystermen accustomed to annual- 
losses from this five-fingered pest, are acquainted with the 
manner in which it is so destructive. Even writers upon 
the oyster, whose general information upon this subject 
should have taught them better, have fallen into the same 
error of supposing that the taper fingers are introduced 
between the valves, and, in some mysterious manner, kill 
and devour the contents. 
The Starfish is provided with an extensible mouth, sit- 
uated in the middle of the underside, and can only injure 
an oyster of a certain size relative to its own. If the 
oyster is small enough, it is swallowed shell and all; the 
body is digested, and the shell ejected. But if its victim 
is a little too large for this operation, Nature has provid- 
ed this scourge with the power to turn its stomach inside 
out, envelope the unhappy oyster, and absorb the dainty 
flesh within by means of gastric juice. A. Agassiz, in 
“Seaside Studies,” speaks of this peculiarity as follows: 
“These animals have a singular mode of eating; they 
