26 



time become lime, and mix again in the sea in very small particles, and which will be again 

 utilized by some other animal; but it is scarcely likely again to help to make another pearl, 

 which is simply an extraordinary excrescence entirely caused by some infirmity in the constitution 

 of the animal in which it grows. 



Large pearls, like diamonds and other precious stones, are often valued for their size 

 almost entirely, from the rarity of their being so found; here we have an instance of a 

 questionable style of taste. 



It often happens, when of great size, they lack the quality of perfect uniformity in shape, 

 certainly I think, the greatest charm in the simple form of the pearl so often seen. A large 

 pearl, except for its lustre, is often rather suggestive of a malformation. Could it be 

 possible to cut mother-of-pearl into beads, drill these and polish them? If so used, would the 

 beads not equal or even surpass the real pearl in beauty, if such a matter could be possible? 



Though shells are generally considered of a very different group from minerals ; on thinking 

 about the subject we must come to the conclusion that the shell itself is a mineral production 

 which Nature gave the power to the living creature to make merely for its protection ; the 

 pearl also being like the shell a mineral production naturally made, and in such a very 

 singular manner. 



We sometimes see substances of very different compositions somewhat similar in appear- 

 ance; for instance, mother-of-pearl, made by what for illustration I will call an oyster, and 

 which sometimes for iridescence might be compared to what may be considered when fine, the 

 most beautiful of precious stones, the dpal. I have sometimes almost wondered some jeweller 



