376 



SHELLS. 



[Chap. XI. 



movement^ and unable of itself to quit the place to 

 which it is originally attached l 9 he demonstrated, not 

 only that it possesses locomotive powers, but also that 

 their exercise is indispensable to its oeconomy when 

 obliged to search for food, or compelled to escape from 

 local impurities. He showed that, for this purpose, it 

 can sever its byssus, and re-form it at pleasure, so as to 

 migrate and moor itself in favourable situations. 2 The 

 establishment of this important fact may tend to solve 

 the mystery of the occasional disappearances of the 

 oyster ; and if coupled with the further discovery that 

 it is susceptible of translation from place to place, and 

 even from salt to brackish water, it seems reasonable 

 to expect that beds may be formed with advantage in 

 positions suitable for its growth and protection. Thus, 

 like the edible oyster of our own shores, the pearl-oyster 

 may be brought within the domain of pisciculture, and 

 banks may be created in suitable places, just as the 

 southern shores of France are now being colonised with 

 oysters, under the direction of M. Coste. 3 The operation 

 of sowing the sea with pearl, should the experiment 

 succeed, would be as gorgeous in reality, as it is grand 

 in conception ; and the wealth of Ceylon, in her " trea- 

 sures of the deep," might eclipse the renown of her 

 gems when she merited the title of the 66 Island of 

 Kubies." 



On my arrival at Aripo, the pearl-divers, under the 

 orders of their Adapanaar, put to sea, and commenced 



1 Steu art's Pearl Fisheries of Calendar for 1858. — Appendix, 

 Ceylon, p. 27 ; Cordiner's Ceylon, p. 14. 



Sfc, vol. ii. p. 45. 3 Rapport de M. Coste, Pro- 



2 See Dr. Kelaart's Keport on fesseur d'Embryogenie, &c, Paris, 

 the Pearl Oyster in the Ceylon 1858, 



