54 



After the day's work, the pearls which have dropped out are selected and as- 

 sorted. The small, or seed pearl, are worth from $15 to $35 per oz. 

 Those of half a grain weight are sold from 30 to 40 cents each, and those of 

 one grain from 75 cents to a dollar ; of two grains, from ISO cents to 225. 

 Those weighing five grains from $7 to $10; and those above 8 grains, if of 

 fine color and shape, are of arbitrary value. 



The finest specimens of extremely rare occurrence have fetched enormous 

 prices, and have even been considered invaluable, fit only to adorn the regalia 

 of princes, and contribute to the costly splendor of Asiatic potentates. 

 These beautiful and unassuming productions, so delicate and varied in their 

 tints, so elegant in their forms, are more highly estimated, and more generally 

 used as ornaments in Asia, than in Europe; and consequently the most precious 

 are returned by the Asiatic merchants. 



DIVISION I. Shell oblong, umbones or apices terminal and pointed, slightly 

 angulated at one side, and rounded at the lower margin. 



Scientific name. 



Edulis, 



Pellucidus, 



Vulgaris, 



Bilocularis, 



Ungulatus, 



Exustus, 



Striatulus, 



Niger, 



Latus, 



Locality. 

 Brit., Baltic & Ind. Seas. 



West Indies. 

 Indian Ocean, Nicobar. 

 West Indies. 

 Jamaica, Tranquebar. 

 Northern Ocean. 

 West Coast of Africa. 

 New Holland, China. 



Scientific name. 

 Perna, 



Smaragdinus, 

 Confusus, 

 Bidens, 



Puniceus, 

 Demissus, 

 Ruber. 



Locality. 

 Straits of Magellan. 

 Tranquebar, Guinea. 



Amer., So. Seas, Med., 



Magellan. 

 Goree. 



Carolina, N. America. 

 Southern Ocean. 



DIVISION II. Transversely ovate, with longitudinal ribs on each side, and 

 plain or striated in the middle. 



Discrepans, 

 Discors, 



Baltic. 

 Norway, Britain. 



Iinpactus, 



New Zealand. 



DIVISION III. Found burrowed in rocks, coral, fyc. 



Lithophagus, 



Aristatus, 



Ambiguus, 



Rugosus, 



Caralliophagus, 



Ind. Eu. and Med. Seas. 



Senegal. 



Weymouth, Dev. Coast. 



Britain, Norway. 



E. and W. Indies. 



Praesisus, 



Fuscus, 



Plicatus, 



Niveus, 



Arborescens, 



Britain. 

 East Indies. 

 Nicobar Isles. 



do. do. 

 China, St. Domingo. 



