SKUNK  Or

BLACK MARTEN.—Size 15X8 in . The underwool is full and fairly close with, glossy, flowing top hair about 21 in. long . The majority have two stripes of white hair, extending the whole length of the skin, but these are cut out by the manufacturing furrier and sold to the dealers in pieces for exportation . The animals are found widely spread throughout' North and South America . The skins which are of the greatest interest to the European trade are those from North America, the South American species being small, coarse and generally brown . The best skins come from Ohio and New York . If it were not for its disagreeable odour, skunk would be worth much more than the usual market value, as it is naturally the blackest fur, silky in appearance and most durable . The improved dressing processes have to a large extent removed the naturally pungent scent . The fur is excellent for stoles, boas, collars, cuffs, muffs and trimmings . Value Is . 6d. to us . SousLIK.—Size 7 in.X21 .

Is a small rodent found in the south of

Russia and also in parts of America . It has very short hair and is a poor fur even for the cheapest linings, which is the only use to which the skin could be put . It is known as kaluga when imported in ready-made linings from Russia where the skins are dressed and worked in an inferior way . Value Id. to 3d .