WILD ANIMALS YIELDING LEATHER, HORN, ETC. 317 



Arctic species related to the Dolphins and Porpoises. The 

 average length of adults is about 10 feet, but this may be con- 

 siderably exceeded. It is chiefly hunted on the north of Russia 

 and north-east of Canada, and is one of those cetaceans which 

 ascend rivers. The blubber is of good quality, and the skin is 

 made into the "porpoise leather" of commerce, which is of con- 



Fig. 1227. Cachalot or Sperm Whale (Physeter macroct.pha.lus) 



siderable value for the manufacture of shooting -boots and some 

 other articles. 



REPTILES (REPTILIA). It need only be said here that orna- 

 mental leather is made from the skins of Crocodiles and various 

 Lizards, while " tortoise-shell " is obtained from certain Turtles. 

 Of the last something will be said in a succeeding section. 



FISHES (PISCES). The skins of various members of this group 

 are of economic value. Those of certain sharks and dog-fishes, for 

 instance, are the source of " shagreen ", used to some extent as 

 ornamental leather, but chiefly for polishing wood. Their value 

 for the latter purpose depends upon the fact that they are full of 

 little hard-pointed scales, covered with enamel. The skins of 

 some of the ordinary bony fishes (Teleostei) are employed for 



