366 



MARSUPIALIA. 



Some twelve or fifteen years ago a few thousand skins 

 were imported annually, now the annual supply exceeds 

 two million skins, which realize from 2d. to Is. 5d. accord- 

 ing to demand, colour and quality. It is now justly 

 appreciated for its cheapness, light weight, pretty grey 

 colour, and general usefulness. It is made into rugs, 

 perambulator mats, capes, boas, &c., and the tails are 

 made into mats ; many are dyed black and dark brown, 



some are also used for glove tops, either brown-topped or 

 clipped in imitation of Beaver. 



England, Germany, France, and America, are the 

 chief buyers of this fur ; the skins usually begin to arrive 

 in London in October. 



The colour of the Australian Opossum is a beautiful 

 grey, with longer and darker, or dark grey, hairs on the 

 back ; the under fur is blue, except in the redder animals, 



