Besides
the individual value which pearls possess in common with all other
precious stones, and which is expressed in the preceding table, they
have another very important one, which we may call associative value. Thus
it happens, that two pearls of the same form, the same size, the same
colour, &c, are worth a much higher price, if sold together, than
when sold apart. A necklace, in which the pearls have been chosen from
a great number, will be held at double the value of a necklace where
the pearls have been picked from a smaller number, even when the
individual value of the pearls is identical in both. In the first case
the harmony will be complete ; while in the second case the eye will
detect a break in the shades in passing from one pearl to another.
CORAL. Coral is a submarine production secreted by ani-
