90 PELTRY. FELT. 



Fox of Siberia, undergoes changes of colour not less consider- 

 able, and hence its winter fur is very much sought, while its sum- 

 mer coat is almost valueless. 



71. Some furs are supplied by animals that inhabit France and 

 the neighbouring countries ; but the majority of them come from 

 North America, or Siberia. 



72. [The peltries, which are called in France, Sauvagines, 

 are furnished by the Fox, the Beech-Marten, the Pole-Cat, the 

 River Otter, the Domestic Cat, the Hare and Rabbit. Most of 

 these skins are dyed in imitation of the more precious furs. This 

 mode of imparting artificial colours, known in manufactures 

 under the name of lustering, is generally effected by the succes- 

 sive application of different coats of colouring matter, by the aid 

 of a brush rather than by immersion, because it is easier in this 

 way to imitate nature, by giving the different tints to the base 

 and point of the hair. This business is extensively carried on in 

 Paris and Lyons, with the greatest degree of perfection.] 



73. In the empire of Russia, the pursuit of animals for their fur 

 is chiefly carried on in that vast extent of country between the 

 east of the Volga, and Kamtschatka, and also on the north west 

 coast of America, where a great number of Sea Ottters are taken, 

 the fur of which is highly esteemed, and is principally sold to the 

 Chinese. Siberia furnishes different species of foxes, the skins of 

 which are often of great value (such as that of the Isatis or blue 

 fox, the black fox, &c.) the marten, the sable, the ermine, &c.; 

 bears also furnish a good proportion of peltries. 



74. The immense forests of the north, east, and west of America 

 furnish beaver, marten, river otter, bear skins, &c. 



75. The annual sale of peltries on an average of four years, 

 in London, is nearly five hundred thousand skins of various 

 kinds, which affords some general notion of the value of the fur 

 trade. 



Of the manufacture of Felt. 



76. The skins of many animals of the order of Rodentia, not 

 only serve for peltry, but are also employed in the manufacture 

 of fur hats. Hairs have the property of mixing and matting so 



71. What countries furnish most fur? 



72. Do the furs offered for sale alwnys possess their natural colours? 



73. In what parts of the Russian Empire are animals most hunted for 

 Jieir fur? 



74. What pellries are obtained from North America? 



75. What is the number of fur skins annually sold in London? 



76. What is Felt? 



