CHAPTER VI 



THE NATURAL COLOR OF FURS 



Gray Furs 



The Russian squirrel is probably the most popular of all of the 

 gray furs, especially for coats. It varies in shade from a light sil- 

 very gray to a dark bluish gray; and there are some that have a 

 reddish tinge. There are others that have almost a pronounced red 

 stripe down the back, the sides of the skin, however, being gray. 

 This reddish tinge is caused by the animal lying out in the sun on 

 bright sunshiny days. The sun will soon draw out the natural color 

 and tinge the top hairs along the back. They may be just as fine 

 in thickness of fur and quality as the perfect gray skins, and usually 

 are, but they are not as valuable on account of being off color. The 

 expert dyers and dressers take these skins and blend them. This is 

 done by just tipping the top of the hair with dye the tone of which is 

 about the same as the sides of the fur. This tipping gives the skin 

 an even color all over and they are very hard to distinguish from the 

 natural clear colored Russian squirrel. The clear colored skins are 

 preferable, but the wearing qualities of the blended skins are pro- 

 bably just as good. We have millions of squirrels in this country, 

 but they are not suitable for furriers purposes, as the pelt is too 

 thick and the fur too thin and coarse. Therefore, the supply of 

 squirrel pelts for furriers comes from Siberia, and from the Northern 

 part of Manchuria. They are in great demand in this country as 

 well as in Europe, and it is one of the most beautiful furs that we 

 have and is reasonable in price. 



Chinchilla 

 Chinchilla is the most beautiful of all the gray furs as well as the 

 highest priced. It is found in a limited area in South America. 

 The pelt is very light and thin, and the fur from one half to three 

 quarters of an inch in depth, very silky, soft, and beautiful. The 

 color might be described as a delicate French gray, darker and mot- 

 tled on the surface with a bluish slate tint beneath. In recent years 

 the Chilean government has enacted laws for the protection of 

 chinchilla. They are not allowed to be trapped or taken in any 



