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Ch. 4: Pearl-bearers, Marine and Fresh-water

Ch. 4: Pearl-bearers, Marine and Fresh-water Page of 341 Ch. 4: Pearl-bearers, Marine and Fresh-water Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
Fresh-water Pearls.                         79
Archipelago assert that Pearls of a yellowish colour have been taken from the Pearly Nautilus {Nautilus potnpilius), one of the group of cephalopodous mol­luscs ; but that they throw them away as they are considered unlucky, adding that if a man fought with a ring on, bearing such a Pearl, he would surely be killed. Taking into consideration however the habits and organization of this wonderful animal, and re­membering the beautiful nacreous lining of its shell, it may possibly be accepted as a true statement. Indeed, Mr. Haynes, has a specimen in his posses­sion which he considers an undoubted " Nautilus Pearl."
Fresh-water Pearls.
As our principal supply of marine Pearls is derived from the Aviculidœ, so our fresh-water Pearls are mainly supplied by the great family of the Unionidee. The most important Pearl-bearer of this family, and the one which chiefly concerns us, as being the most productive, is the true European Pearl-mussel, the Unto margaritifera. The word unto is borrowed by conchologists, from Pliny, who uses it to designate the Pearl, because as he tells us no two Pearls were ever found exactly alike, so that the task of matching a Pearl became one of great difficulty. Each Pearl is in fact unique {unto).
Ch. 4: Pearl-bearers, Marine and Fresh-water Page of 341 Ch. 4: Pearl-bearers, Marine and Fresh-water
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