Oyster Opening


A well-known traveller relates a circumstance concerning the orang-otang

in its wild state, which is indicative of very considerable powers, both

of reflection and invention. When the fruits on the mountains are

exhausted, they will frequently descend to the sea-coast, where they feed

on various species of shell-fish, but in particular on a large sort of

oyster, which commonly lies open on the shore. "Fearful," he says, "of

putting in their paws, lest the oyster should close and crush them, they

insert a stone as a wedge within the shell; this prevents it from closing,

and they then drag out their prey, and devour it at leisure."



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