114 CAENIVOEA. 



KOLINSKY. 



Mustela sihirica. 

 French : Kolinski. German : Kolinski. 



The Kolinsky, sometimes called the Eed Sable, appears 

 not to be mentioned in any work on Natural History in 

 this country, and to be unknown to scientists, with the 

 exception of the Eussian Professors. 



Its fur forms an article of commerce, but it is not so 

 much in request as it was about twenty years ago. It is 

 used both dyed and undyed ; in the latter state it is 

 much appreciated by the Quakers. Its chief value lies 

 now in its tail, which is largely used for paint-brushes. 

 These brushes are strong and of a very fine quality, and 

 are sold under .the name of Eed Sable. 



The price of tails fluctuates considerably, from Is. 8d. 

 to 4s. 6d. each. Many brushes are made out of one tail. 



The fur is short, and rather dense ; it is yellow or 

 brownish-yellow, and the tail is of the same hue as the 

 body ; the ears are short ; the throat is covered with 

 patches of white. 



The Kolinsky is rather a small animal, about 18 inches 

 long, the tail being about 4 inches. 



The price of this fur varies considerably; the high 

 price of 7s. 6d. per skin was paid in 1872 ; now, in 1891, 

 it is worth about 2s. About 50,000 to 80,000 animals 

 are trapped annually in Siberia, many being sent to this 

 country and to France. 



The finest and largest skins come from Kusnetsk, 

 but the tails of these have soft and weak hair. About 

 10,000 to 40,000 are collected there annually. 



