BLADDER-NOSED SEAL. 225 



volunteer regiments in England. A few Blueback skins 



are also used for imitation morocco, the surface being 



tightened up by means of cork. The Greenland skins 



are larger than the Newfoundland, and are a deeper 



blue on the back. About 500 in the dry state are sold in 



Copenhagen by the Greenland Company. The weight of 



a salted Blueback skin varies from 5:^ to 6^1bs., and the 



j)rice ranges from 3s. 6d. to 7s. 4d. (1891). After two 



years, when the animal is adult, the Blueback begins to 



lose its rather short hair, which has now turned almost 



yellow, and is succeeded by a much shorter growth of 



sleek hair. It is now blue on the back, and black spots 



aj)pear on the head and sides. The fore-feet are short, 



and furnished with five short, strong, sharp claws. The 



hind flippers are longer and webbed, the two outer 



toes being longer than the three middle. The toes are 



covered with short thick hair, and the nails are about an 



inch long. At this age the skins are called middling 



spots, large, and extra large sj^ots. 



The young are covered with white hair or fur, and 

 are called Whitecoats. The whiskers are generally of a 

 very light brown, but sometimes they are black ; they 

 are bristly and granulated, or notched. A small pro- 

 portion of Whitecoat skins are imported, but they can 

 hardly be distinguished from the more abundant young 

 of the Greenland Seal, unless perhaps by their being 

 thicker in the wool. 



The skin of the Bladder-nosed Seal is often made into 

 coats and trousers by the Greenlanders. The Polar 

 Expedition under Captain Nares was furnished with 

 coats made out of Bluebacks. This skin was probably 

 chosen as being one of the only cheap furs at that time, 

 but in other respects it was not a judicious choice. The 

 skins were extremely heavy, and liable to get damp, 



Q 



