12 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST, 
The formation of pearls is a secret which has baffled many 
inquirers, and is not yet completely solved. The poets claimed 
that a drop of dew was caught within the valves and grew 
into a pearl. Most modern writers supposed that a grain of 
sand or other irritant was coated with pearl and so formed the- 
nucleus on which the gem was built. Recent discoveries indi- 
cate that the mummified larva ofa tape worm is the usual com- 
mencement of the pearl. 
Torres Straitsis the richest field in the world. A hundred: 
thousand pounds worth of pearl shell is sometimes exported 
thence ina year. About half a century ago the pearl shells 
were discovered on the reefs by wandering beche-de-mer fisher- 
men. At first they picked up the shell exposed at low tide ; 
then native swimmers were engaged to collect from the shallow 
water beds. Ultimately the beds in deeper water were ex- 
loited by the introduction of diving apparatus. 
The pearl shells are propagated by eggs which float on the 
surface of the sea, and thus may be transported by currents 
toa distance. «After about a week the young fry develop a 
shell and sink to the bottom. Here they crawl rapidly about 
and select asuitable spot wherethe water is clear and they are not 
in danger of being choked with mud. Finding a suitable 
resting place it ties itself to a bit of stone, weed, or another 
oyster by a bunch of threads. 
Its food consists of minute vegetable or animal atoms float- 
ing in the sea. A stream of water is perpetually sucked in 
and pumped out, and whatever eatable is carried through in 
this current is sieved out and absorbed. The pearl oyster pro- 
bably reaches its full size in four or five years. 
OBITUARY. 
Ir is with deep regret that we have to announce in this, the 
first issue of our journal, the death of a member, Mr. J. F. 
Morris, B.E., F.G.S., which occurred in the Malay States on 
December 23, 1905, at the early age of 27. Mr. Morris was a 
member of Dr. Jack’s expedition to the Yangtse Valley about 
the time of the Boxer troubles, and passed through some ex- 
citing experiences. Our. members will remember that on his 
return to Sydney he delivered a lecture before the Club—a lec-. 
ture which, from its interesting nature, will long be borne in 
mind by those who heard it. ~The deceased was a young man 
of much ability, and it is to be deplored that what promised to. 
be a brilliant career should have come to such an untimely 
end. ‘The news announcing Mr. Morris’ demise was very brief, 
having been received by cable. To his mother, Mrs. Morris, 
and his immediate friends, we tender, on behalf of the Club, 
our heartfelt condolences. 
