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THE FURS AND FISHES OF NOVA SCOTIA. 



Furs. — This attractive department gained for Nova Scotia the first place 

 for furs in 1851, and gave a gold medal to the exhibitor for that year. Though 

 in its nature diminishing as the province becomes settled, still the export 

 for 1860 gave 20,000Z. value, one half of which were furs produced in the 

 province. The collection now shown at the International Exhibition is a 

 very fine one. 



The fur bearing animals represented, with one exception (the ermine), 

 in the collection of skins and manufactured articles of the exhibitor, Mr. 

 W. J. Coleman, are in their natural order as follows. The classification is 

 that of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. This, though differing 

 in some respects from British authorities, bears such weight in America as 

 to be the first authority, at least, on American mammals. 



Three Lynx skins {Lynx Canadensis). Common, said by Temminck to be 

 identical with the Lynx of Northern Europe, and is not diminishing in the 

 province ; a beautiful rusty brown, hoary fur. 



Five Wild Cat skins, (Lynx rufus). The Wild Cat, or Bay Lynx, differs 

 from the last in shorter fur and longer pencils to the ears ; it is not so 

 abundant as the last ; both are true Lynxes. 



One Wolf skin, {Cams Occidentalis). This Wolf is exceeding scarce in 

 the province ; it is distinct from the European Wolf. 



Ten Red Fox skins, ( Vulpes Fidvus), of exceeding beauty. 



Six Sihjer or Black Fox skins, (V.fulvus, variety argentus). These are 

 the celebrated silver or black foxes — the most valuable furs the world pro- 

 duces, of an incomparable lustre and beauty ; they have brought in some 

 cases 401. each. There are some fine black fox skins in the Newfoundland 

 Court, and in Russia. 



Six Cross Fox skins, ( V. fulvus, variety, decussatus). Of great beauty, 

 but of less value than the last. All these Foxes are of one species, and live 

 and breed together, but owe their difference of colour to unknown causes. 



Two Fisher skins, (Mustela Pennantii). Pennant's Weasel, or Fisher — a 

 large and beautiful Weasel, but rapidly diminishing in numbers. 



Ten Martin skins, (M. Americana). The American Martin differs from 

 the Pine Martin of Europe ; it is rapidly diminishing in the province of 

 Nova Scotia. 



Putorius cicognanii and P. Richardsonii, two distinct species of Ermine, 

 and both differing from the true Ermine, are found in Nova Scotia ; they 

 differ chiefly in length of tail. 



Twenty-five Mink skins, {Putorius vison — P. nigrescens). Mink — two 

 species — perhaps varieties exist in Nova Scotia — differing in size ; the 

 smaller, or nigrescens, has the more beautiful fur. Mink fur, of exceeding 

 beauty and increasing value ; the animal does not diminish in numbers ; 

 its value has increased tenfold. 



Six Otter skins, (Lutra canadensis). The American Otter differs from the 



