Pearls and the Pearl Fisheries. 405 



To this exhibitor was awarded the great gold medal, net 

 for finish as works of art (for those of Franconini and 

 R. Phillips, of London, which were far superior, were passed 

 over), but merely as the most rare and valuable collection 

 of pearls shown. 



Bellega has a high reputation for Italian jewellery. His 

 collection at Naples also received a medal from the jury, 

 and included a diadem of pearls, turquoises, and brilliants, 

 and a variety of other objects. 



Phillips Brothers, of Cockspur Street, exhibited a very 

 large and curious-shaped pearl, tastefully mounted and set 

 as a triton. 



The best pearls are of a clear, bright whiteness, free 

 .from spot or stain, with the surface naturally smooth and 

 glossy. Those of a round form are preferred, but the 

 larger pear-shaped ones are esteemed for earrings. Ac- 

 cording to the position the pearls occupy, they partake of 

 the character of the shell near which they are formed. 

 Thus, the pearls from the centre of the nacreous shells are 

 of the usual pearly structure of those shells, while the pearls 

 formed on or near the outer coat of the Pinna squamosa 

 are of the same brown colour and prismatic texture as that 

 part of the shell. Those from the Placuna placenta are of 

 a lead colour, while even from the true pearl oysters 

 (Avicula margaritifera] they are frequently of a light, 

 semi-transparent straw colour. Those formed on the part 

 of the common mussel shells are of a bluish colour. 



The dark-coloured pearls are usually little esteemed ; 

 in general they are obtained from the black-edged or smoky 

 mother-of-pearl shell. Pearls of a considerable size are 

 sometimes found attached to the shell, and being carefully 

 removed and filed, are strung with the perfect pearls, as the 

 convex part of the pearl which was in contact with the 



