Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-25
Something About Oysters.

Look at an oyster (! In that soft and gela-
tinous body lies whole world of vitality and
quiet enjoyment. Somebody has styled FOSSIL
ferrous rocks monuments of the felicity OF
past ages" An undisturbed oyster-bed is a con-
centiation OF happiness in the present Dormant
though the several creatures there congregated
SEEM each individual is leading the beauti6ed
existence of an Epicnrean gosd. The world
without, its cares and joys its storms and calms.
its passions, evil and good--aII are Indifferent
to the nnheeding oyster Unobservant even of
what passes in its immediate vicinity, its whole
soul is concentrated in ITSELF yet not Sluggishly
and alphabetically, for its body is throbbing with
life and enjoyment. The mighty ocean is sub
servient to its pleasures The rolling waves
watt fresh and choice food within its reach,
aud the flow of the current feeds it without
requiring an effort. Each atom of water that
comes in contact with it delicate gills evolves
its imprisoned air, to freshen and invigorate
the creatures pellucd blood.
Invisible to human eye, unless aided by the
wonderful inventions of human science countless
millions of vibrating ella are moving incesSantly
with synchronic beat on every fibre of each
fringng leafet Well might old Leewenhoek
exclaim, when he looked through his microscope
at the heart of IL shell-fSh "The motion saw
in the small component parts of it was so in
credibly great, that could not be satisfied with
that spectacle and it is not in the mind of
man to conceive all the motions which beheld
within the compass of grain of sand" And
yet the Dutch naturalist, unaided by the finer
instruments of our time beheld but dim and
misty indication of the exquisite cliary appa-
ratuS by which these motions are Effected
How strange to reflect that all this elaborate
and inimitable contrivance has been devised for
the well being Of despised shelfsh Nor is
it merely in the working members of the crea-
ture that we find its wonders comprised
There are portions of its frame which seem to
serve no essential purpose in its economy which
might be omitted without disturbing the course
of its daily duties, and yet SO constant in their
presence and position, that we cannot doubt
their having had their places in the original
plan according to which the organization of the
mollusk was first put together These are
symbols of organs to be developed in creatures
higher in the scale of being-aBt;types, it may
be, of limbs, and anticipations of undeveloped
senses. These are the first draughts of parts
to be made cut-in their details elsewhere, serv-
ing, however, an end by their presence, for
they are badges of relationship and affinity
between one creature and another In them
the oyster eater and the oyster may find some
common bond of sympathy and distant cousin
hood. Had the disputationS and need le-witted
SChoOlmen known of these mysteries of vitality
how vainly subtle would have been their specu-
lations concerning the solution Of such enigmas.
But the life of a shell-fSh is not of unvary-
ing rest. Observe the phases of an individual
oyster from moment of its earliest embryO-life,
independent of maternal ties, TO the consumma-
tiOn of its destiny, when the knife of fate shall
sever its muscular cords and doom it to entomb-
ment in a living sepulchre How starts it
forth into the world of waters Not as IN.
enlightened people believe, in the shapeof
minute, bivalved protected, grave, fixed, and
steady oysterlng No; it enters upon its
career all life and motion fitting about in the
sea as gayly and lightly as butterfly or
swallow skins through the air. Its first ap-
pearance is as microscopic oyster cherub, with
wing like lohes blanking mouth and shoulders,
unincumbered with inferior crural prolongation,
it posses through Joyous aud vvacious juven-
i'ity, skipping up and down as if in mockery of
its heavy and immovable parents. It's voyages
from Oyster-bed to oyster-bed, and, if in luck
SO as to escape the watchfu voracty of the
IHOuStttlu eUeulleS IHdL lie Ill WdlC UT DTOWI
about to prey upon youth and experience, at
length having sowed its wild oats, settles down
into a steady solid domestic oyster. 1t becomes
the parent of fresh broods of oyster cherubs
AS such it would live and die, leaving its shell,
thickened through old age, to serve Gs its mona
ment throughout all time-a contribution
towards the construction of a fresh geological
epoch and a new layer of the earth's crust
were it not for the gluttony of man, who rend-
ing this sober citizen of the sea from his native
bed, carries him unresiSting to busy cities and
the hum of crowds. If handsome, well shap-
ed, and well favored oyater. he is isintroduced TO
the palaces of the rich and noble like wit, or
philosopher, or poet, to give additional relish
to their sumptuous feasts if sturdy, thick
backed, strong tasted individual fate consigns
him so the capac Gus tub of thestreet fshmonger,
from whence, doSed with coarse black pepper
and pungent vinegar, embalmed partly after
the fashion of an Egyptian King, he is trans
ferred to the hungry stomach Of a costermon-
ger, or becomes the luxurious repast Of sue
cesSful pckpocket.- Westminster Rerteu.
HUMMING BIRDS ToNGUEs.-The tongue of q
humming bird is very curious. 1t has two
4,,Io IL a., &c Al.