136 CLOTHES AND HOW THEY PROTECT US 



oil, but an all-linen sample becomes entirely translucent after 

 soaking for five minutes in it. 



Fu-r. Animals such as the beaver, seal, rabbit, and cat are 

 protected against cold by a soft silky covering called fur. Be- 

 tween the innumerable fibers which make up the fur is air, and 

 since air is a non-conductor of heat, fur prevents the escape of 



FIG. 58. Eskimo in fur dress. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Commercial Museum.) 



bodily heat and keeps the animals warm. For years, man has 

 killed fur-bearing animals and has made their furry skins into 

 garments for his own protection. Eskimos dress entirely in fur 

 (Fig. 58), and thus protect themselves against the extreme cold 

 of ice-bound regions. Inhabitants of less rigid climates do not 

 need so much protection against cold, and dress in less bulky 

 garments of wool and cotton using fur only for outside clothing, 

 such as coats, boas, muffs, and gloves. Among the most prized 

 furs are those of the otter, beaver, sable fox, and ermine, but 

 many other animals, like the skunk, squirrel, and muskrat, 

 furnish valuable furs. The demand for furs is so much greater 

 than the supply that the skin of the domestic cat has been 

 dyed and prepared in such a way that it imitates more costly 

 furs. Under false names, cat furs are sold in large numbers 

 everywhere. Fox skins are so valuable, that attempts have 



