oct. — dec. 1857.] The Pearl Oyster of Ceylon. 



99 



few hours it revives, but with few exceptions, it is on the third or 

 fourth day, that the portion of byssus attached to the foot of 

 the animal is shaken or cast off, and the animal puts out its 

 foot and forms another near the spot where it lies ; or walks, 

 by a snail-like motion of its foot, to, or up the side of the 

 glass, to the level of the water, and there fixes itself. Some of the 

 Oysters which were thrown into the sea, are now seen growing 

 on the sides of rocks, four and five feet from the bottom. 



I am not surprised at these results, for the edible Oysters, with 

 out a byssus, have been known for ages to bear translating with" 

 advantage, If Oysters in artificial beds in England can live and 

 breed. I see no reason why the Pearl Oyster should not do the 

 same, and like the edible Oyster, yield a large revenue ; or prove 

 remunerative to private individuals, who may undertake the esta- 

 blishment of new banks. 



I have one other subject, connected with the interior eco- 

 nomy of the Pearl Oyster, to report upon ; and this the miscros- 

 cope which Government aided me in procuring, has enabled me to 

 investigate very satisfactorily. 



My observations commenced about the middle of March last ; 

 although I was not officially connected with the Ceylon Govern- 

 ment till the first of May. I have ever since made monthly obser- 

 vations regarding the fecundation of Oysters; with the following re- 

 sults. In March, and all through April, May and June, every Oys- 

 ter I opened, young and old, contained ova in the ovaria, except 

 the few which had the seminal milky fluid ; so that the Meleagrina, 

 like the edible Oyster is in spawn almost from its birth, a precocity 

 serving a useful purpose no doubt; and its practical bearing easily 

 understood. From July to the present date, the Oysters examined 

 did not all contain ova; some of the ovaria were only half full ; 

 others contained a very small quantity. It will be very inter- 

 esting to proceed with these monthly examinations, and to as- 

 certain, whether the Oyster is only in spawn at certain periods of 

 the year; and, if possible, to determine whether it spawns more 

 than once in twelve months. Nearly all the 100 Oysters from the 

 Pearl Banks of Arripo, kindly sent to me by Mr. Vane, contained 



