94-6 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



never exceed the size of a pin's head, and are not worth, at 

 most, more than sixpence each. 



Credible European evidence was adduced ; pros and 

 cons were strenuously maintained in the discussion that 

 followed the reading of Dr. Dennys' paper. But, as usual, 

 neither side convinced the other, and spontaneous creation 

 in the matter of pearls still owns its supporters. For our 

 own part, we cannot conceive it possible that one pearl 

 can be developed from another de novo, however much the 

 " nibbled end" of the rice particle may give colour to the 

 idea. Yet the author can testify that, after having kept 

 some rice and some pearls together in a box for a long 

 time, the grains of rice, though originally perfect, have 

 suffered some change, whereby they present all the appear- 

 ance of having been nibbled. While unable to explain this 

 phenomenon, he does not for a moment believe although 

 the belief is entertained by many intelligent Europeans 

 resident in the East that it has any connexion with the 

 reputed reproduction of the pearls ; indeed, it need hardly 

 be added that the pearls placed with the rice have not 

 increased in number or in magnitude. (Streeter, " Pearls 

 and Pearling Life," &c., p. b8.) 



There is a very curious passage in Philostratus (Life 

 of Apollonius), in which Apollonius the philosopher relates 

 that the inhabitants of the shores of the Red Sea, after 

 having calmed the sea by means of oil, dived after the 

 shell-fish, enticed them by means of some bait to open 

 their shells, and having pricked the animals with a sharp- 

 pointed instrument, received the liquor that flowed from 

 them in small holes made in an iron vessel, in which it 

 hardened into real pearls. 



Pearls were formerly used in medicine, but their thera- 



