MYA. 89 



the laminae that compose the cover, perforate the inter- 

 nal silvery coat. The remedy for this evil is imme- 

 diately applied ; the animal secretes the material, the 

 hole is stopped, and a pearl is formed. Linnaeus, who 

 remarked how the animal contrived to put a stop to 

 enemies which were living at its expense, proposed to 

 imitate the worms, and procure artificial pearls by 

 piercing the shells with an instrument. The means 

 which he employed were kept a secret by the Swedish 

 government. It succeeded to a certain degree ; but the 

 number of saleable pearls produced were so inconsi- 

 derable, in proportion to the useless tubercles, that the 

 expense exceeded the profit, and the scheme was aban- 

 doned. 



There is reason to believe that the Chinese have long 

 known the secret of producing pearls, by perforating 

 the shells. 



Pliny remarks that small red pearls are found in the 

 Mediterranean, especially about the Thracian Bos- 

 phorus, in certain shells called myce ; but he does not 

 attempt to define the species. In nostro mart reperiri 

 solebant, crebriiis circa Bosphorum Thracium, rufi ac 

 parvi in conchis, quas myas appellant. (Plin. lib. ix. c. 35.) 



