PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL. 



For February, 1852. 



The monthly meeting of the Asiatic Society was held on Wednes- 

 day, the 4th February, 1852. 



Sir James Colvile, President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 



The following presents received since the December meeting were 

 laid on the table : — 



1st. From Dr. MacGowan, Ningpo. Two specimens of Auricula 

 shells. In reference to these, Dr. MacGowan writes : — 



" The Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal contains, I believe, 

 no specimen of the artificial pearls of China, as formed in a species of 

 the Mytilus, I have therefore procured a couple, of which I beg the 

 Society's acceptance. One of the specimens contains images of 

 Buddha, and such are often employed to foster superstition. 



"The method of forming them, is, placing in the living animal 

 small metallic images, which occasion irritation ; and in the course of 

 a year they are found covered by the pearly secretion. When the 

 foreign body is suffered to remain for several years, and the muscle 

 continues to thrive, very beautiful pearly deposits are formed. The 

 accompanying specimen shows only a year's growth. 



" Though the method has been long known to the Chinese, it is 

 altogether probable that the discovery of Linnaeus was wholly inde- 

 pendent of any knowledge derived from this quarter of the world ; 

 otherwise he would not have accepted the reward and honour be- 

 stowed on him by our country, in consequence of the invention, 

 which at the time promised to be one of great value." 



