FURS AND THEIR WEARERS. 147 



The ermine is abundant in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and 

 America, about 400,000 being taken yearly. It is much smaller than 

 the sable. In summer it is of a yellowish brown, and is then called 

 a stoat ; and its fur is known among furriers by the name of roselet. 

 In winter, at the north, it becomes a pure white, and extremely beauti- 

 ful. Farther south, the change from brown to white is less perfect. 

 The end of the tail remains black during the year. It was formerly 

 very valuable, and was much used in England to line the official robes 

 of judges and magistrates. It is still considered a choice fur. The 

 color of the Canada lynx is light gray, waved with black. Its fur is 

 long, fine, and very thick, and furnishes a most beautiful material for 

 robes, ladies' sets, trimmings, etc. Some 50,000 skins are sent to mar- 

 ket each year. The Siberian squirrel is a neat, lively, active little 

 animal. Its fur in winter is short and silky, and of a pretty gray 

 color. The skins are used quite extensively for making ladies' sets 

 and children's furs ; several millions being taken annually. 



Fig. 6. 



Canada Lynx. (Tenney.) 



The seal is a quadruped which spends the larger portion of its time 

 in the water, and whose shape very much resembles that of a fish. Its 

 neck is short, its body is tapering from the shoulders, and its legs or 

 flippers very much resemble fins. It can stay a long time under water 

 without breathing, at which time it can close its nostrils and ears. 

 The species are numerous, difler greatly in size, and are found in almost 

 every part of the world, but abound mostly in the higher latitudes. 

 They live upon fish and other aquatic animals, eat their food in the 

 water, but in fine weather they prefer the ice, or the rocks and sand on 

 shore, on which to sleep, to bask in the sun, or to play. The harp 

 seal furnishes the Esquimaux and Greenlanders with food, clothing, 

 light, covering for their boats, and other articles of convenience. The 

 eyes of seals are dark and lustrous, their sense of hearing acute, and 

 they delight in musical sounds. Their heads so much resemble the 

 human form, and their movements are so graceful, that the ancient 



