1'IIE PEARL FISHER V. 
223 
the bottom of the sea, usually called rock-oysters. These are 
some f °ll n<i r S A r0ll n ™ 1 P ltttC ’ and arc admired by 
some as excellent food. But what is the size of these com- 
pared to the oysters of the East Indies, some of whose shells 
We have seen two feet over ! The oysters found alonrr the 
coast ol Coromandel are capable of furnishing a plentiful 
nieal to eight or ten men ; but it seems universally agreed that 
they are no way comparable to ours for delicacy or flavour 
lb us the muscle and the oyster appear to have but few 
distinct'ons, except i n their shape, and the power of motion 
n the former. Other btvalved shell-fish, such as the Cockle 
the hcALLOP, and the Razor-shell, have differences 
equally minute. The power of changing place, which some 
The scallop is particularly remarkable for its method of 
ovmg forward upon land, or swimming upon the surface 
the water. When this animal finds itself deserted by the 
tide, it makes very remarkable efforts to regain the water 
noving towards the sea in a most singular manner. It first 
gapes with its shell as widely as it can, the edges being often 
an inch asunder ; then it shuts them with a jerk, and by this 
e whole animal rises five or six inches from the ground 
“ thus tumbles any way forward, and then renews the 
Peration until it has attained its journey’s end. When in 
he water it is capable of supporting itself upon the surface; 
nd there opening and shutting its shells, it tumbles over 
a over, and makes its way with some celerity, 
tion he /?^ or Razor-Shell has a very different kind ofmo- 
thJ ' AS l ! e m ? ves laboriously and slowly forward, so 
Th^ f°n She J ,as on,y a P°wer of sinking point downward. 
ie shells of this animal resemble nothing so much as the 
inr i a r ^ zor > and b y this form it is better enabled to dive 
tle° • 6 S , sand at dle bottom. All the motions of this lit- 
0r anima * are confined tosinkingor rising a foot downwards 
r„.J 1 P wards m t,le sa «d, for it never leaves the spot where 
haip ltwas P^ hinted. From time to time it is seen torise about 
Pem Wa r ° l , U ? f ' ts hole; but if i,n y wa y disturbed, it sinks 
ra pendicuhniydowH again. J ust over the place where the 
Whirl Ies l ^ se £ diereis a small hole like a chimney, through 
the T the anim . al breathes, or imbibes the sea-water. UpSn 
by the ff L 10n °' th , etlde ’ lhese ho,es are easily distinguished 
the I n hshermen who seek for it ; and their method ofenticina 
little S Z0 ' U i P dom dle ticpth of its retreat is, by sprinkling a 
•he r > 0a " i i u P on dl e whole. This melting no sooner reaches 
‘ zoi below, than it rises instantly straight upwards, and 
