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."