300 



THE RODENTIA. 



the year. The best skins are those taken in December, 

 January and February when the animal is in full fur; 

 next in value are the so-called winter skins, and the poorest 

 in quality are what are known as "Fall Rats." The skins 

 of the very young animals called "Kitts" are of little 

 value. The question of locality enters largely into the 

 grading of the skins. Muskrats are generally taken in 

 traps, and most of the skins come to the market cased. 



MUSKRAT 



With the exception of the black skins, which are found 

 principally in the .southern part of its habitat and are 

 always used in their natural state, a large part of the Musk- 

 rat skins are plucked that is, iiave the long top hairs 

 removed and the ground fur is dyed to make the rich 

 substitute for seal skin known as "Hudson Seal." Some- 

 times the skins are blended with the top hairs left on to 

 resemble the mink, when they are sold as "River Mink" 

 Most of them are used in their natural state and color to 

 make linings for coats, or in the manufacture of muffs 

 or other small furs, which are sold as "Brook Mink." 



