Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-03

tell you about one good time we had.
We five children went to havs luncheon
at Aunt Mays, who always had some
thlng OF which we were specially
fond. This time it was oyster stew.
During pause in the merry CONVEX
satlon allowed around the table Aunt
May said:
Children, do you know that the de-
icious bivalve you are eating is so
small at the beginning of its career
that two million of them would only
occupy square inch of space.
Immediately we all were interested.
and Charlie, the eldest, who was study
ing natural history, began measuring
off a square inch, while his aunt con-
tinued: In six months, however, they
nave grown SO fast that each oyster is
large enough to cover silver half dol
lar, and twelve months later have at
tanned a size fit for the table, and in
three years are in their prime They
are found in other countries also. but
are said to be at their best in America
Brother Earnest, who had been Curl
ousiy inspecting the last oyster in his
plate, now asked:
"Auntie, where is the oysters head?"
at hasn't any, DEAR said Aunt May.
and when we all looked astonished,
continued, though this we'll kno--n
shell fish has heart, liver, mouth and
lips, yet it has no head, and for this
reason is classified as acepalous, which
is Greek word meaning without
head; neither has the oyster any feet,
no power of locomotion, except when
very young temporary swimming Or
gan is given them until, clinging to
Whatever attachment comes in their
way, they start building the house or
shell in which they are found by the
oyster dredgers, and the older they
grow the more ridges show on the
shells. They live mostly upor tiny ami
mails and small particles Of vegetable
matter found in the water, and bring
the food to their mouths by means of
their gills, which are the ruffelike
edges of their little soft bodies. They
also breathe through their gills, as we
do through our lungs. The little brown
spot is their heart and the large dark
one is their liver
There was silence for a brief period
as they satisfied their appetites, then
Charlie begged his aunt to tell them
some more about the oysters habits.
Summer is the oysters season for
spawning" continued Aunt May, "and
cannot then be used for food, unless
found in salt water beds. where they
can be caught the year round
Little Bess, the baby of the family,
now cried out: "Me got a crab! Me
got a crab!"
On, thatS only tiny OYSTER" said
Matte.
"No dear" said Aunt May. cit is
what Bess saba crab-and is often
found inside the oysters shell, where
it creeps for safety from the GREET
fishes, then is caught along with the
oyster. That is the reason we find them
so frequently in our oyster stews.''
"Auntie, teacher said the pearl but
tons on my dress are made of oyster
Shells said sister Edith.
so they are DEAR said Auntie smil-
ing, "and I am glad you mentioned it,
for that reminds me that there is also
what is known as the pearl oyster.
which is found principally in the seas
of the tropical regions. These are too
coarse to be eaten, but are valuable
because they furnish what is known as
mother of PEARL
AS we were leaving for home toward
evening Charlie placed his arms around
Aunt May and said:
"Auntie, that was the best oyster
stew we ever ate, because you fed our
minds as well as our bodies. Please in
vite US again.
MARY E. CHESS, San Pedro.