140 THE LIFE OF THE MOLLUSCA 
in the Pharmacopoeia from Pliny’s days, and down 
to quite recent times there has been a widely 
prevalent belief that they were especially efficacious 
as a remedy for consumption. 
After food comes ornament. In various caverns 
of the Stone Age in Southern France numbers of 
littoral shells bored for the purpose of threading 
have been found, as well as fossil shells similarly 
treated. Present-day savages in all parts of the 
world utilize them for personal adornment in many 
ways, sometimes simply boring and stringing them, 
sometimes preparing portions only by rubbing 
down till the required part is left. Specially prized 
kinds are either employed for particular forms of 
ornament or are reserved for the exclusive use of 
chiefs. Sections of big Top Shells and Cones form- 
ing large rings are prepared and used as bracelets, 
and recently were imported in quantities as armlets 
for ladies to keep up the long gloves then in fashion. 
Their other modern uses for ornamental purposes, 
as well known, are extensive and varied—from ash 
trays to Mother-of-Pearl inlaying work, while 
pearls form an additional item apart, and have been 
highly esteemed from very early times. These are 
obtained not only from the Pearl Oyster of Ceylon 
and the East, but are met with in the freshwater Pearl 
Mussel (Margaritana margaritifer), and their fishing 
once formed a valuable industry; while the occur- 
rence of pearls in the Zebra Mussel (Dreissensta) in 
