252 MARSUPIALS AND THEIR SKINS 



to be the great reserve of good and cheap fur. Yet 

 it is among these creatures that the greatest waste of 

 fur-bearing animals occurs. 



Opossum -skin rugs are familiar objects in this 

 country, but the skins of the larger marsupials are 

 rarely seen or used. Yet in many parts of Australia 

 they are now exterminated, partly that their hides may 

 be used for leather, partly to preserve the grass they 

 eat as food for sheep. It is said that ninepence per 

 scalp was paid by Government for each one shot. The 

 large kangaroos and many kinds of wallaby have a 

 coat so close and soft that it will lie in any direction, 

 like plush. It consists almost entirely of * under-fur,' 

 and the natural tints are very beautiful some French 

 gray, others warm red, with tints of orange and rose 

 colour, others like rough beaver or nutria skin. The 

 common ' opossum ' of Australia has a far less compact, 

 though deeper fur, which often comes off when much 

 worn ; and though the dark Tasmanian variety has a 

 splendid tint, its looseness and depth cause it to harbour 

 dust, and make it difficult to clean. Nevertheless, the 

 yearly * catch ' of opossums beats that of any other 

 fur animal. It is conducted without sense or modera- 

 tion ; for the creatures are constantly killed in the 

 summer, and the skins, then almost worthless, are 

 shipped to England. The wombats, or ' native bears/ 

 are also killed off for the sake of their fur, which is 



