Barry, help!

[Barnhart]

On another list the subject of the earliest example of oyster, mountain
oyster, and rocky mountain oyster was posted.  OED was reported with
1890 (acutally Cent. Dict. is the source in the late 20th century OED
supplement by Robert W. Burchfield).  I've poked about a little and
found the following for mountain oyster:

And, if they choosed, to partake of the dainty of cruelty caught and
primitively cooked "mountain oysters"--always found in great abundance
where many calves are herded.  Baxley, H. Willis, _What I saw on the
west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands_.
New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1865, p 442

It would not be unreasonable to expect an earlier dating, would it,
Barry?

Regards,
David

barnhart at highlands.com