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Ch. 5: Mother-of-Pearl Shells

Ch. 5: Mother-of-Pearl Shells Page of 341 Ch. 5: Mother-of-Pearl Shells Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
94                                   Pearls.
especially layers of weed are thus found embedded in shells, forming unnatural excrescences on the surface.
These "blisters" may be found apparently empty and discoloured within, or full of water and half decayed substances ; in both cases an offensive odour points out that the enclosed substance was of animal or vegetable character. Pearls are also frequently found in "blisters;" they escape from the body of the oyster, and are then treated in exactly the same manner as a stone or other intruder, being covered over by each successive layer of nacre. These unnatural protuberances on the inner surface of the shell are gradually removed by the oyster secreting thinner layers of nacre on the top of them than at the base, until the surface becomes again level. Slowly but steadily the ex­terior surface of the shell decays and disappears, until the blister and its contents come within reach of the advancing dissolution, and then these in turn disappear. Any inorganic or insoluble matter in the blister falls to the bottom ; and thus the oyster literally passes a stone or other intruder through its shell.
This process is illustrated by Figs. 2, 3 and 4, (See opposite page). In Fig. 2, a small Pearl, or other foreign body fallen into the shell, has become cemented to the
Ch. 5: Mother-of-Pearl Shells Page of 341 Ch. 5: Mother-of-Pearl Shells
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