pearls grow in the mantle of the bivalves 

 and are wholly surrounded by the flesh of 

 the animal. They are usually symmetrical, 

 being spheres, hemispheres, drop, dumb-bell 

 or oval in form and all are revolved as they 

 grow, thus being spun into shape. Baroques 

 on the contrary may grow in various parts 

 of the interior of the shell fish but they 

 remain stationary and are therefore irreg- 

 ular in shape. 



Upyon opening a shell containing a pearl 

 it may be seen to shine through the thin 

 walls of the mantle which enclose it. An 

 idea of the appearance of a spherical pearl 

 in its pocket may be had from the following 

 cut. 



Pearl in Living Mussel 



The fisher can usually tell at a glance, 

 before removing it, whether he has found a 

 valuable gem or only a shapeless lump of 



Sphere or Ball 

 Pearls 



4 



SHAPES OF PEARLS 



Button or Half 

 Spheres 



Drop or Pear-shaped 

 Pearls 



Oval Pearls 



Biscuit Pearls 



Ringed or 

 Dumb-bell Pearls 



