OYSTERS AND OYSTER-CULTIJRE. 
453 
what is it ? This question has not been satisfactorily an- 
swered ; but there can be little doubt that the animal attains to 
a great age in some cases. From an examination of the shells 
of certain fossil oysters, it would seem that their years must 
have numbered at least one hundred; but evidently these 
were exceptional instances : Billingsgate had no existence in 
those days. There is not much to be said about the habits of 
the oyster. It has no power of locomotion, except when in 
the embryo condition : consequently, Lister's tales about the 
change of position with that of the tide, may be considered 
purely fabulous. Vegetable food is the kind it loves, and 
when this is abundant, the oyster fattens. It affects a warm 
temperature, and does not reach perfection in cold climates. 
Hence it is, as Mr. Buckland states,* that the oysters on the 
west of France, which are warmed by the Gulf Stream, have 
the advantage over our “ natives." A sandy or muddy bottom, 
and comparatively shallow water, are most congenial to the 
adult oyster's tastes. It is as yet a question, whether it will 
live in fresh water as well as in salt ; but, from the evidence 
of Dr. Kemmerer, it would appear that fresh water only 
influences it as to flavour, and has no effect upon its growth, 
fattening, or yirility. 
Next we have to consider the enemies of the oyster. 
First come the mussels, which accumulate mud, and thus 
suffocate the young; then the star-fish, which grasps the 
oyster with its rays, and with its everted stomach eats the 
entire animal ; a species of sponge which makes its way into 
the interior of the shell, and does considerable damage ; the 
oyster- catcher, which kills its thousands ; the sea-urchin, 
which devours the embryos ; and last, though not least, the 
cold, which arrests development, if it does not kill the animal 
at once. 
With so many different beings and circumstances hostile to 
its multiplication, it is surprising that such numbers of the 
oyster should still exist. The great fertility and prolificness 
of the mollusc explain why it is not already extinct. Whether 
oysters be, or be not, hermaphrodite, we shall not now discuss. 
The subject is one which, from its purely technical nature, and 
from the extent of space its discussion would occupy, cannot 
be dealt with here. It may (taking either view) be stated, 
that each egg-producing individual gives birth to from one to 
two millions of young a/t each period of spawning. The eggs 
are developed and extruded during the months of May, June, 
July, and August ; and this is why the oyster is unfit to be 
eaten during the summer. The ova are not, as certain writers 
* Letter to the Times , May, 1864. 
