164 MYA. GAPER. Class VI. 



crown. They are called by the IVelsh, Cregin 

 DiluWj or Deluge Shells, as if left there by the 

 flood. 



The Irt in Cumberland was also productive 

 of them. The famous circumnavigator, Sir 

 John Hawkins* had a patent for fishing that 

 river. He had observed pearls plentiful in the 

 Straits of Magellan, and flattered himself with 

 being inriched by procuring them within his 

 own island. 



In the last century, several of great size were 

 gotten in the rivers of the county of Tyrone and 

 Donegal, in Ireland. One that weighed 36 

 carats was valued at 40/. but being foul, lost 

 * much of its worth. Other single pearls were 

 sold for 41. \0s. and even for 10/. The last 

 was sold a second time to Lady Glenlealy, who 

 put it into a necklace, and refused 80/. for it 

 from the Duchess of Ormond.-\ 



Suetonius reports, that Cccsar was induced 

 to undertake his British expedition for the sake 

 of our pearls ; at comparing the sizes of which 

 he was so expert, as sometimes to have ascer- 

 tained the weight by his hand only. J I ima- 

 gine that desar only heard this by report ; and 



* Camden, ii. 1003. f Ph. Tr. Ahridg. ii. 831. 



% Sueton. Fit. Jul. Cces. c. xliv. 



