ON THE TRADE IN SKINS AND FURS. 427 



again to recede, and will afford time to the monkeys, who must have 

 been sorely hunted, to recruit their numbers. There are two other 

 species of monkey, which might be introduced with advantage, they are 

 the Diana monkey and the Colobus Guereza. 



The fur seal has annually increased in demand for ladies' mantles 

 and like all other goods of a costly nature, has called forth an imitation 

 of less value. This has been effected by removing the upper hair from 

 the skin of the musquash, leaving the finer portion, which having passed 

 through the hands of the fur dyer, forms an excellent substitute at half 

 the price. 



The Skunk (Mephitis Americana) is a fur new to commerce : owing 

 to the repugnant smell which the animal possesses, and which the fur, 

 even when it has passed through the dressing process, retains, it has not 

 been considered of great commercial value. Continued experiments 

 have surmounted the difficulty ; the two stripes of white coarse hair 

 down the back are removed, and a skin of rich black fur is formed. It 

 will no doubt take rivalry with superior furs for ladies wear. 



The history of this skin is suggestive that there may be many other 

 skins that could be rendered useful were apparent objections sought to be 

 overcome. But a few years back the number that appeared in the London 

 sales was trivial : in 1861, 1 10,000 were brought to public sale ; and 

 now that their preparation has been still further improved, this formerly 

 neglected skin will probably bear a high value. 



In 1851, there were seventeen English exhibitors of furs, nineteen 

 colonial, and fifteen foreign ; in the late Exhibition there were eighteen 

 English, forty-one colonial, and eighty-six foreign. Of the English ex- 

 hibitors, Messrs. Smith and Sons made the best and most prominent 

 display ; the skins had been carefully selected and well manufactured. 



Messrs. Bevington and Morris showed some excellent samples of 

 angora and sheepskin rugs ; the grease appeared to have been thoroughly 

 extracted, and the several colours were particularly bright and good. 



Messrs. Tussaud Brothers exhibited specimens prepared under their 

 patent for the removal of the hair or fur from skins, by which process 

 the fur is preserved for warm clothing, and the skin or pelt left available 

 for tanning. The skin is in the first instance steeped in lime-water to 

 loosen the fur from the skin ; the fur is then, by the aid of a solution, 

 adhered together, and as soon as dry it is stripped from the pelt. When 

 stripped, a coating of India-rubber is spread on the roots of the hair, 

 which is finally protected with thin cambric, to form an artificial pelt. 

 The process is very cleverly and ingeniously effected ; and should the 

 new material stand the wear and tear of fair usage it may prove of much 

 utility. 



From such of our Colonies as are of high temperature we cannot 

 look for skins of fur-bearing animals, at the same time they have been 

 larger contributors than on the former occasion in 1851. 



Ceylon and India exhibited chetah and tiger skins, the demand for 

 which is very limited being solely for ornamental purposes. 



