How Sammy Went to Coral-Land | Page 9

Every mouth was

wide open, eagerly sucking in the tiny water animals and plants on
which the oyster feeds.
They paid but small attention to Sammy, but as soon as Meteor came in
sight, shell after shell quickly closed, and the whole Colony
immediately became to all appearances, a deaf, dumb and blind asylum.
Not a sign betrayed that they were living creatures, and the disgust of
the two adventurers may well be imagined. In vain did Sammy ask
questions, and put forth his best conversational powers; in vain did the
Star-Fish attempt to conceal his identity by hiding in the mud, the
cautious oysters were not to be fooled, and finally, much put out, the
two companions were obliged to retire unsatisfied.
"It's all my fault," grumbled the Star-Fish, as they moved slowly away.
"I should have had sense enough to creep along in a less conspicuous
manner. You see so many different kinds of sea-folks, crabs, sea-snails,
etc., as well as our own family feed on the oysters that it makes them
very timid, and they close their shells at the least sign of danger. And,
of course, once the shells are shut the sharpest and most experienced
claw is of no use. It is much easier to hunt oysters before the shell
hardens, though it is not considered as much sport."
"Are oysters' shells ever soft?" inquired Sammy in great surprise.
"Oh, yes, indeed!" said Meteor, in a very superior tone. "Why I
supposed that every fish in the sea knew that, but I forget, you are from
the fresh water.
"The young oysters are hatched in the shell of the mother in the form of
eggs. She keeps them for awhile, but presently sets them free, and
although they are very tiny, they have eyes to see with, and can swim
about. The oysters have large families, and I knew of one Lady Oyster
who had two million young ones, but of course, only a few lived to
grow up, since they are greatly prized as food by all fish, and delicious
meals they make too, as I can tell you from experience.
"But about the young oysters: Well they are driven about by the
currents and tides, and finally attach themselves to some object, like a

rock, or hide in the sand and mud, and there they take up housekeeping
for life, for, once their shell hardens, they cannot move.
"They are stupid creatures as compared with superior fish, like you and
me for instance; but of course, since they have no head proper, they
cannot be expected to use their brains. An Oyster has a large heart,
however, as well as eyes, mouth, lips and liver, and he breathes through
little tiny things like leaflets on each side of his body. I have heard that
the oysters in the Indian Ocean contain very beautiful and costly pearls,
as well as those in the Pacific, and other seas, and a good many
common oysters have pearls in them too.
"They say that the two-legged land race value the oyster on account of
the pearls, and that they are very fond of it as an article of food: and
indeed I've been told that this horrible race of land creatures will
devour or make use of in some way, almost anything that comes out of
the water. How glad I am that I live in the sea, instead of on shore!
"However, as I was saying, the oysters have lots of enemies, and they
make few friends outside of their own family, and no wonder when you
consider how very stuck-up they are."
"They are certainly very unsociable," agreed Sammy. "Still it has been
nice to learn as much about them as you have been able to tell me, and I
am greatly obliged to you."
"Don't mention it," returned the Star-Fish, affably. "I make it my
business to know the manner of life and habits of the creatures I live
upon, and a good deal about those I have to avoid, and it will give me
great pleasure to give you any information in my power. And above all
things beware of that old hypocrite the Hermit-Crab, and all his
family."
This friendly advice proved of great benefit to Sammy during his stay
at the ledge, and indeed, all through his life in the ocean. As he
acquired a greater knowledge of the ways of the sea he lost much of his
timidity, though none of that caution that is the safeguard of every wise
fish.

Each day as he took longer trips about the ledge, he made new
discoveries and new acquaintances, and though these were all
interesting, yet he longed to leave the ledge entirely and journey to
Coral-Land. Of this wonderful, faraway country he had