Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02
Furriers Stretching Skins,
Preparatory to Cutting
Them Into the Desired
Shapes and Sizes.

formed dense mass composed OF the cells
OF the inner skin. which ultimately be.
come the papilla OF the hair
In general. the hairs OF mammals are
circular or elliptical when viewed in cross
section Those which are circular are
straight or but slightly curved, while those
OF elliptical cross-section are curly or
kinky. the amount Of curl depending upon
the fairness OF the ellipse.
An animals hair shaft Is built up of four
weldefned structural uniis-the medulla
or Dith. composed of many shrunken and
vAriouslv disposed cells; the corteI sur
rounding the medulla and composed ui
spindle-shaped cells coalesced into horny,
transparent mass: the pigment granules.
to which the color Of the hair is primarily
due: the cuticle or outer covering. com
posed OF thin. transparent, colorless scales
which sometimes overlap like the scales
of fish.
BY studying these units under the micro
scope the animal 10 which any given
hair belonged can be determined with great
accuracy. You can In this way prove abso-
lutely whether the fur a dealer Is selling
you for ermine is really ermlne or only
white rabbits skin skilfully treated 10
resemble the far more expensive article
How necessary such method as this Is
can he readily seen by glancing at some of
the receptions which are frequently prac.
ticed In the fur trade.
American sable Is altered and sold as
various kinds: hare. as sable or fox: kid,
as lamb; woodchuck. as mink, sable or
skunk mink. as sable: muskrat as mink,
sable CT seal; fitch. as sable; nutria (the
Coypu rat), az seal, beaver or otter; opop-
sum. as beaver; otter. az seal OF various
kinds: rabbit. as ermine. seal, musquash
or chtnchilla; kangaroo. as marten; white
hare. as fox
Most mammals have at least two kinds
OF ha.r-a short, thick. fine coat next the
q f,a fur dor toir
and longer. coarscr usually sitter hair
which overl.es the first and which Is called
the protective or over hair. II Is the fur
hair which usually forms the greater part
the protective hair from the same animal
exhibit certain differences In their medul.
las anG cuiicular scales which ena BILE them
TO be readily distinguished
lew animals possess great many
different notifications OF these two kinds
OF hair. the dnckbili. 8 curious creature
found In Australia that II partly aquatic,
partly subaerial and partly subterranean,
probably holds the record for having the
iarsest number Of different varietier OF
stu finer hair about the ears: short,
st!f, rather fiattened hair back Of the ears;
long. stin, tlattened hair on the under Dor.
ton NJ the body; very stiff, almost bristle.
IKE hair OH vine wrists; and two distinct
types at hair On the bacE--long, soft, dark
brown hair on the outside, and fur hair
underneath.
The differences in the cu;Icular scales
covering the hair shafts furnish science
WIN the best means OF distinguishing the
raie OF one animal from that OF another.
These scales fall into two great grouns-
these that lie finsy overlapping about the
mar shaIi; ard those that encrcIe the
smart ~ continuous band. looking some
ming, IKE eorone,. The former type IL
caIIed intricate and The latter coronal.
n ir,,t,-
Is found In the yellow-haired porcupinc
Other interesting examples + this tyne arc