378 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



In working a natural muskrat coat the bellies are usually 

 cut away. The more of the belly that is eliminated the 

 cleaner cut the coat is considered. For Hudson seal, how- 

 ever, the entire skin is used. 



"Silver 'Rat." — The recent popularity of light shades in 

 furs have brought muskrat bellies into use as a fur in 

 itself. They have been introduced to the trade as "silver 

 'rat". The hair of the belly is softer and silkier than that 

 of the back, and its pale grayish tan color makes it quite 

 desirable for light spring jacquettes. More labor is re- 

 quired in the making of a coat of muskrat bellies, because 

 of the small size of the pieces, than on the natural muskrat 

 coat, and for this reason "silver 'rat" coats cost as much 

 as, if not more than, the ordinary muskrat coat. 



Variations in Muskrat Color Patterns 



It is a well known fact to scientists who have studied 

 the muskrat that the color of the pelage differs widely 

 with different forms and species. The range of color 

 is from light tawny shades to dark brown, which some- 

 times is almost black, but the prevailing color is a rich 

 reddish brown. Sports in color are frequently seen, espe- 

 cially in Louisiana, and we have records of albinism, in 

 which the 'rat's coat is a pure white, with the accompany- 

 ing pink eyes, of course, and we have frequently met 

 with a muskrat fur that is a wonderful rich fawn, or 

 "champagne" color, one such pelt being reproduced in the 

 upper illustration on page 373. 



According to Harry J. LaDue, editor of the American 

 Fur Breeder,* known as an authority of considerable impor- 

 tance in silver fox and pen muskrat breeding, the out- 

 standing occurrences in variations from the type colors in 

 muskrats seem to occur in such isolated sections as certain 

 sections of Labrador, Nevada and along the Atlantic sea- 

 board. He believes that isolation is rather an important 

 factor in the dominance of variations in the wild state 

 "because breeding becomes more or less a natural form 

 of line breeding in an isolated section and variations obtain 

 a greater foothold and increase accordingly." 



♦LaDue, H. J., American Fur Breeder, Sept., 1928. 



