22S APPENDIX. 



The value of pearls depends upon fize, regularity of 

 form, (for roundnefs is not always requifite) weight, fmooth- 

 nefs, colour, and the different fhades of that colour, bue- 

 tonius fays, that Casfar gave to Servilia, Marcus Brutus's mo- 

 ther, a pearl worth about L. 50,000 of our money. And 

 Cleopatra, after vaunting to her lover, Mark Antony, that 

 me would give him a fupper which fhould cod two hun- 

 dred and iifty-thoufand pounds, for this purpofe diflblved 

 one of the pearls which fhe carried in her ears, which a- 

 mounted to that price, and drank it. The other, it is faid, 

 was carried afterwards to Rome by Auguflus Csefar, fawn 

 in two, and put in the ears of Venus Genetrix. 



The price of pearls has been always variable. Pliny feems 

 to have over-rated them much, when he fays they are the 

 moil valuable and excellent of all precious flones. He mull 

 probably have had thofe juft mentioned in his view, for 

 otherwife they cannot bear comparifon with diamonds, 

 amethyfls, rubies, or fapphhes. 



It has been observed to me by the pearl fifhers in the 

 eafl, that when the fhell is fmooth and perfect., there they- 

 have no expectation of a pearl, but are fure to find them 

 when the fhell has begun to be diftorted and deformed. 

 From this it would feem, as the fifh turned older, the vef- 

 fels containing the juice for forming the fhell, and keeping 

 it in its vigour, grew weak and ruptured ; and thence, from 

 this juice accumulating in the fifh, the pearl was formed, 

 and the fhell brought to decay, perfectly in the manner, as 

 I have before faid, fuppofed by M. Reamur. 



In 



