2/8 Pearls, 



in appearance very like an opal ; the summit dis- 

 playing a radiating lustre. Probably this Pearl was 

 obtained from the great clam shell — a shell which 

 occasionally produces Pearls, but of no value, being 

 lustreless, and not to be compared even with a 

 common fresh-water Pearl. 



Pearls of various other Colours, 

 Respecting Pearls of other colours than black 

 and pink, very little need be said. The greenish- 

 black is probably of all tints most coveted ; it occurs, 

 however, but rarely, and when a Pearl of this parti- 

 cular hue, possesses the right orient, it exceeds in 

 value all other coloured Pearls. A bluish-black 

 Pearl, if of fine orient, is almost as valuable as a 

 true black one. The Pearls from the P lacuna 

 placenta are often of a dull leaden colour, while those 

 occasionally found in the outer coat of the Pimia 

 squamosa are commonly of a brown tint, Brown 

 Pearls are of very little value ; neither are those 

 of plum-colour much sought after. Red Pearls are 

 worth only about one shilling per grain. Yellow 

 Pearls again do not generally realize more than a 

 few shillings per grain, and those of gamboge tint 

 are practically of no value in this country. When, 

 however, a Pearl is of a very fine bright golden 

 colour, it may be worth from twenty to forty 

 shillings per grain. 



