The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-07-27
The Anatomy of An Oyster.

Every oyster has mouth, heart, a
liver, stomach, cunningly-devised in
testines and other necessary organs,
just as all living, moving and intelli-
gent creatures have. And all these
things are covered from mans rudely
inquisitive gaze by mantle of pearly
gauze, whose woof and warp put to
shame the frost-lace on your windows
in winter. The mouth is at the smaller
end of the oyster, adjoining the hinge.
1t is of oval shape, and though not
readily seen by an Impractical eye, it's
location and size can be easily discover
ed by gently pushing blunt bodkin.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 consid-
erable distance down toward the stom-
ach 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 deli
cate and sharp knife you can take of
the ''mantle" of the oyster, when there
will be disclosed to you a 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 a network of blood
vessels, and the other drives the blood
out through arteries. In this important
matter the oyster differs in no respect
from other warm or cold .blooded ami
mails. And no one need laugh incredu-
lously at the assertion that oysters have
blood. 1t is not ruddy, according to the
accepted notion about blood, but it is
nevertheless blood to all oyster intents
and purposes. In the same vicinity, and in
marvelously proper positions, will be
found all the other organs named. But
it is very proper to be incredulous about
that mouth and organs. At first glance
it would seem that they are utterly use
less, for the mouth cannot snap around
for food, and the oyster has no arms
wherewith to grab its dinner or lunch
True, apparently, but only apparently,
for each oyster has more than a thou
sand arms, tiny, delicate, almost invisible
And each one of them is necessarily al
work gathering mp food and gently push
ing it into the lazy mouth of the indo
lently comfortable creature.
The gills are the thin flap so notably
perceptible around the front face par
of the undressed oyster, below the mus
cles. Each of these gills is covered will
minute hair-like arms, very close together
and perpetually in motion to and fro il
the same unwearied direction. They
catch food from the water, strain it care
fully of improper substances, and waft
il upward, over the mantles smooth
surface, to the gaping mouth, which
placidly gobbles it up until hunger il
appeased, and then the body goes t.
sleep without turning over. Any ont
can observe this singular process of feed
ing byplacing a minute quantity of som,
harmless cOloring matter on the gills
If it will not offend the oysters delicat,
palate, the coloring matter will be seel
at once propelled by invisible hand
toward the mouth, and thence slowl,
down into the stomach. And thi
is all know about oyster anatomy, OK
cept that the liver almost entirely sur
rounds the stomach and is of a darl
green hue. 1t may be new, however, t,
many to know that oysters are born pre-
cisely the same way that shad and othe
fish come into the world. A Well-edu
Gated lady oyster will lay about 1875, 600,
600 eggs-so it is said; have no
counted enough of them to strike sucl
a large average-and every one Of thos