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half-a-dozen natives Oysters, originally those "altogether or partially reared in British waters", later "loosely used to denote an oyster of a superior quality." (OED, 2nd. ed., s.v. "native" 5.b.; cf. Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV.154 (1879): "In the London market oysters are divided into two great classes – 'natives' and 'commons'.")