The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-06-24
TIE ANATOMY OF AN OYSTER:


liver, stomach, cunningly-tlevised in
testines and other necessary organs,
just as all living, moving and intelligent
creatures have. And all those things
are covered from mans rudely inquisi-
tive gaze by mantle of pearly gauze,
frost-lace on your windows in winter.
The mouth is ut the smaller end of the
oyster, adjoining the hinge. II is Of
oval shape, and though not readily
seen by an nnpractised eye, its location
and size can be easily discovered by
gently pushing blunt bodlSin or
similar instrument along the surface
of the locality mentioned. When
the spot is found, your bodkin can be
thrust between the delicate lips and
the stomach without causing the
oyster to yell with pain. From this
mouth is, of course, sort Of canal to
convey food to the stomach, whence it
passes into the intestines. With an
exceedingly delicate and sharp knife
you eau (dNS oA lue OF inc
oyster, when there will be disclosed to
you half-moon shaped space just
above the muscle, or so-called "heart."
This space is the oysters pericardium,
and within it is the real heart, the
pulsations Of which are readily seen.
This heart is made up Of two parts, just
as the human heart is, one of which
receives the blood from the gills
through network OF blood vessels,
and the other drives the blood out
through arteries. 10 this important
matter the oyster differs in no respect
from other other warm or cold hlonded
animals. Aud no one need laugh in
creduiously at the assertion that oysters
have blood. 1t is not ruddy, accord
ing to the accepted notion about blood,
but it is nevertheless blood to all oyster
intents and purposes. In the same
vicinity, and in marvellously proper
positions, will be found all the other
organs named. But it is very proper
to he incredulons about that mouth
and organs. AT first glance it would
seem that they are utterly useless, for
the mouth cannot snap around for food,
and the Oyster has no arms wherewith
to grab its dinner or lunch. True, APP
parently, but each oyster has more
than a thousand arms, tiny, delicate,
almost invisible. And each ono of
them is necessarily at work gathering
up food and gently pushing il into the
lazy mouth Of the indolently comfort
able creature.
The gilIs arc the thin flap so notably
pefceptible around the front face part
of the addressed oyster, below the
muscles. Each of these gills is covered
with minute hair-like arms, close to.
gether and perpctuaily in motion to
and fro in the same unwearied direc-
ton. They catch food from the water,
strain it carefully of improper sub.
stances, and watt il upward, over the
mantle'a smooth surface, to the gaping
mouth, which pacidly g"s,hlcs il up
nntii hunger is appcuacd, and then the
body goes t." sleep without turning
over. Any che can observe this sing
ular process of feeding By placing :.
minute quantity of some harmless color
ing matter on the giils. lit will not
offend the oysters delicate palate, the
coloring matter will be seen ut once
propelled by Invisible hands towards
the mouth, and thence slowly down
into the stomach. And this is all l
know about oyster anatomy, except
that the liver almost entirely surrounds
the stomach and is of a dark green hue.
1t may be new, however, to many to
know that oysters are born precisely
the same way that shad and other fish
come into the world. y we'll educated
lady oyster viii lay about l25, oOO, 900
eggs--so it is said; T have not counted
enough OF them to strike such Il large
average and every one of those eggs
will ultimately become tit for stew or
fry if they escape the multitude of
perils that do environ thd infant of
oyster Baltimore Gazette
The existing cedars of Lebanon are
only 300 years old. The cypress trees
at Montezuma, Mexico, according to Il
French hotapiSt arr. 4; 600 veurs, otd