LAMBS  .—The sorts that primarily

interest the fur trade in Europe and America are those from south Russia, Persia and Afghanistan, which are included under the following wholesale or retail commercial terms: Persian lamb, broadtail, astrachan, Shiraz, Bokharan and caracul lamb . With the public the general term astrachan is an old one, embracing all the above curly sorts; the flatter kinds, as broad-tail and caracul lamb, have always been named separately . The Persian lambs, size 18 X9 in., are the finest and the best of them . When dressed and dyed they should have regular, close and bright curl, varying from a small to a very large one, and if of equal size, regularity, tightness and brightness, the value is comparatively a matter of fancy . Those that are dull and loose, or very coarse and flat in the curl, are of far less market value . All the above enumerated lambs are naturally a rusty black or brown, and with very few exceptions are dyed a jet black . Lustre, however, cannot be imparted unless the wool was originally of a silky nature . Broadtails, size IoX5 in.. are the very young of the Persian sheep, and are killed before the wool has time to develop beyond the flat wavy state which can be best compared to a piece of moire silk . They are naturally exceedingly light in weight, and those that are of an even pattern, possessing a lustrous sheen, are costly . There is, notwithstanding, a great demand for these from the fashionable world, as not only are they very effective, but being so flat in the wool the figure of the wearer can be shown as perfectly as in a garment made of silk . It cannot be regarded as an economical fur, as the pelt is too delicate to resist hard wear . Persian Lamb price 12s .

6d. to 25s . Broadtail „ Ios . ,, 35s . Astrachan, Shiraz and Bokharan lambs, size 22 by 9 in., are of a coarser, looser curl, and chiefly used for coat linings, while the Persians are used for outside of garments, collars, cuffs, stoles, muffs, hats and trimmings and gloves . The so-called caracul lambs, size 12 X6 in., are the very young of the astrachan sheep, and the pick of them are almost as effective as broadtails, although less

fine in the texture . See also remarks as to caracul kid under Goats, above . Astrachan price Is. to 5s . 6d . Caracul Lamb „ 2s . 6d „ Ips . 6d . Shiraz „ 4s .

6d „ tos . Bokharan „ Is . 6d „ 3s . 6d .

Grey lambs, size 24 X io in., are obtained from the Crimea and known in the trade as " crimmers.” They are of a similar nature to the caracul lambs, but looser in curl, ranging from a very light to a dark grey . The best are the pale bluish greys, and are chiefly used for ladies' coats, stoles, muffs and hats . Price 2s. to 6s . Mongolian lambs, size 24X15 in., are of a short wavy loose curl, creamy white colour, and are usually exported from China dressed, the majority being ready-made into cross-shaped coats or linings . They are used principally for linings of good evening wraps for ladies . Price Is. to 2s . 6d . Slink lambs come from South America and China .

The former are very small and generally those that are stillborn . They have a particularly thin pelt with very close wool of

minute curl . The China sorts are much larger . The smallest are used for glove linings and the others for opera cloak linings . Price Is. to 6s . 6d .