UTIUZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 343 



each differs from the others in certain well-detined characteristics, and 

 owing to these differences each variet}'' lias its special uses. 



The Florida skins are longer in the bod}- — that is, from the fore 

 legs to the hind legs — than those from Louisiana and Mexico, and 

 conseciuently the}" are largel}^ in demand l\v manufacturers of large 

 handbags. They also have a number of so-called " buttons" or "corn 

 marks" on the inside or under surface of an equal number of the 

 scutes, residting from embedded horn-like tissues in the center of those 

 scales. These increase the difficulty in tanning the skins and detract 

 somewhat from the appearance of the finished article, and for this 

 reason the Florida skins are ordinarily the cheapest on the market. 

 The farther south the skins are secured in Florida the greater the 

 number of "corn marks," and those from the vicinity of Key West 

 are almost valueless on this account. 



The Louisiana skins differ from those of Florida in the absence of the 

 "corn marks" above noted, and from both the Florida and Mexican 

 skins in being more pliable and in having the scales more artistically 

 curved and shaped. Consequent!}" they are preferred for such small 

 articles as cardcases and pocketbooks, and usually sell at the highest 

 prices. Skins obtained in Mississippi and Texas are similar to those 

 secured in Louisiana, while those from Georgia and South Carolina are 

 similar to the Florida skins, except that the "corn markings" are not 

 so numerous. All the Florida and Louisiana skins show greater uni- 

 formity of coloring, being of a bluish black on the upper surface and 

 a peculiar bluish white on the under side. 



In addition to an absence of the characteristics above noted, the 

 Mexican and Central American skins are distinguished by having from 

 1 to 4 small dots or markings like pin holes near the caudal edge of 

 each scale. The length of the Mexican skins varies greatly in propor- 

 tion to the width, sometimes equaling that of the Florida skins. Those 

 from the east coast of Mexico are the best, being lighter in color and 

 with neat and attractively shaped scales. The west coast skins are 

 yellowish in color when in the green state, and the scales are larger 

 and not so artistically formed. The Florida and Louisiana skins are 

 almost invariably split down the back, or rather along each side of the 

 back, so as to preserve the under side in a solid piece, but most of the 

 Mexican skins are split down the middle of the abdomen, keeping the 

 back intact, making what is commonly known as " horn alligator." 



On all of these hides the scales or bosses are far apart, without 

 mutual articulation or overlapping. The number of nuchal scutes is 

 usually four large ones, forming a square, separated on the median 

 line, with a pair of small ones on front and another pair behind; there 

 are 17 or 18 transverse series of dorsal scutes, the broadest series 

 containing 8 scutes. 



The skins of the alligators or caymans from Brazil, Venezuela, and 

 other South American countries are distinguished by having a much 



