ABORIGINAL SKIN-DRESSING. 555 



(5) After rinsing, the hides are subjected to scouring in a machine 

 by which one man can go over a hundred a day. But the interesting 

 part remains that Turkey-stone is still the only substance that will do 

 the work. The whole operation at this point is no more than a savage 

 process, except that machinery is used to move the stone. 



(d>) The subsequent processes of drying, oiling, sweating, and press- 

 ing are varied with the uses of the leather. The genius of the inventor 

 has been invoked to substitute machinery for these simple hand proc- 

 esses. After all the problems are the same, to remove the hair with- 

 out impairing the hide, to introduce some antiseptic substance within 

 the texture, to break up the fibrous tissue, and to render it pliable as 

 possible. The subsequent processes of dyeing and preparing for spe- 

 cial uses involve all the accretions of civilization, and produce the com- 

 plexity of the more highly organized processes. 



ANIMALS WHOSE SKINS ARE UTILIZED BY AMERICAN ABORIGINES. 



It will help us in getting an adequate conception of the amount of 

 work on pel tries by our aborigines to consider for a moment the great 

 number and variety of animals whose skins were necessary to their 

 happiness. The mention of savage skiu-working usually recalls the 

 seal, elk, reindeer, musk-ox, buffalo, bear, deer, beaver, and fox, but a 

 moment spent in examining the species of mammals which the fastidi- 

 ous taste of an Esquimo woman demands before her wardrobe is com- 

 pleted will enlarge one's knowledge. 



In order to properly estimate the industry under consideration, a 

 list of the animals whose skins are known to have been used by our 

 aborigines is appended. 



MAMMALS. 



Felidee. 



Lynx rufua (Giildenstiidt,). Bay lynx or wild cat. North America. 



Lynx baileyi Merriam. Plateau wild cut. Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. 



Lynx canadensis (Geoff, and Desm.). Canada lynx. Northern North America. 



/ < lis yaguarundi Desm. Yaguarundi cat. North America, south of the United States, 



Felia coneolor Linn. Puma or cougar. America jrenerallv. 



/ < lia pardaUn Linn. Ocelot or tiger cat. Southwestern North America. 



Canidae. 



' wnis lupus Linn., var. (jriseo-albus. Gray wolf. North America generally. 

 Vulpes macrotis Merriam. i;i<, r -eared fox. SouthernCalifornia. 

 Vulpesfulvus (Desm.), var. decussatus. Cross fox. Northern North America. 

 Vulpesfulvus (Desm.), v&r. fulvus. Red fox. Northern North. America. 

 Vulpesfulvus (Desm.), v.-ir. argentatus. Silver fox; hlack fox. Northern North 



America. 

 Vulpes macrurus Baird. Prairie fox. Western States. 

 Vulpes velox (Say). Kit fox or swift fox. Western States. 

 Vulpes lagopus Linn.). Arctic fox. Alaska. 



