214 



THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



The lower of the two illustrations incorporated in Plate XXXVIII. has already 

 appeared, but with less clear effect, in the author's book " The Great Barrier 

 Reef." It represents a photographic fac-simile of the outcome of one of various 

 tentative experiments made by the writer to induce the production of pearls by 

 artificial means. The result obtained is obviously to such an extent encouraging that 

 the prosecution of kindred operations on a larger and systematic scale may be com- 

 mended to the attention of those who may carry into practice that artificial cultivation 

 of the larger tropical Mother-of-Pearl shell which the writer has now demonstrated 

 to be distinctly feasible. 



The subjoined tail-piece illustration portrays a little group of fine Western 

 Australian Pearls photographed by the writer at Mr. G. S. Streeter's Pearling Station, 

 Roebuck Bay. 



