222 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY 



and dyed) Hudson Bay seal; rabbit (sheared and dyed) seal coney; 

 white rabbit mock ermine; skunk black marten. Among the 

 actual misnomers for the use of which dealers may be prosecuted are the 

 following: muskrat (pulled and dyed) seal; rabbit (sheared and 

 dyed) seal; muskrat (dyed) mink or sable; white rabbit, ermine; 

 white rabbit (dyed) chinchilla; goat (dyed) bear; etc. 



Ponies, lambs, kids, puppies and cats are used in large numbers in 

 the fur trade. 



The subject of furs and fur-bearers is a large one and for further 

 information the reader is referred to special monographs and trade 

 journals. 



FIG. 142. Muskrat, Fiber zibethicus. X%. 



The lions, tigers and leopards, inhabitants of warm climates, 

 though not usually thought of in connection with the fur-bearers, have 

 considerable value in this way, but their destructiveness to cattle or 

 even to human life makes them of more negative than positive value. 



Although the carnivora are not very generally used for human food, 

 yet some of them such as bears, seals, etc., are often so used. The skins 

 of certain bears are also valuable and those of certain seals are among 

 the most prized of all furs, as will be noted later. One of the most im- 

 portant uses of some of our smaller carnivora, notably, the skunk, mink, 

 weasel, fox, coyote, and others, is in the destruction of many of our 

 rodent pests, soon to be described. Most of the animals just named are 

 considered by the average farmer to be a nuisance because of the oc- 

 casional raids that may be made on his inadequately protected poultry, 

 but a few farmers are beginning to realize the value of these carnivora 



