The Sable

Many persons, happy in the possession of a set of sable furs, know little or nothof the interesting little animáis from whoso skin their beautiful and luxurious articlas are made, or the privations and dangers towhich the hardy hunters who are engaged their capturo are exposed. The fur of the sable is more soft and glossy than that of any other animal, and is, therefore highly esteemed. The true sable is a native of the droary regions of Siberia, where it haunts the gloomy pine forests which stretch ovor immense traots of country far remoto from human habitations. It is into the midst of these trackless wilds that the sable hunter has to penétrate in pursnit of his game, and tho chase is carried on only in winter, for it is theii that the fur is linest. Great are often the hunter's perils and privations. He has to traverse plains and mountains covered with snow, and swept by the fierce tempests of au Arctic winter ; to spend days and nights in patiënt watching in the solitude of dismal forests ; ho is exposed to overwhelming snow storms of which wo in our climate can scarcely conceive. He often loses his way, his provisions fail, and he finds himself exposed to all the horrors of death by cold or starvation. The fur of the sable is of a brownish black color, and the darker it is the more valuable it becomes. A single skin, though only fonr inches broad, is oiten valued at forty to fifty dollars. The fur differs from that of otber animáis iu having no grain, and by rubbing it backward orforward, it is equally smooth and unresisting. Somo are of a dark brown over all the body exoept the ears and throat, whero the hair is of a yellowish cast; othors are moro light, their ears and throat much palor. These are the colors they have in winter, which they aro seen to chango on the approach of Bummer; tho former to a yellow-brown, and the lattor to a palé yello w. Their dispositions are fierce and untameable, and thoy are possessed of a very disagreeablo odor, characteristic of all animáis of that. class. In size they resomble the tuarten, being nearly eighteen inches in length. They aro furnishod with very large whiskers, havo bright, lively eyes, a small head, and withal are among the most finely formed and graceful of animáis. Sables are generally found along the banks of rivers, in shady places, and in tho thickost woods. They leap with case from tree to tree, and shun the sun, which tarnishes the lustro of their fur. Yery few are found in any country except Siberia, and this scarcity enhances I their value, which is each year ing as the supply ia diminishiug. The very high prices demanded for furs from theso littlo animáis have broughfc many " manufacturad sables" iuto market, tho latter being cleverly prepared from other skins less valuable and dyod. Some of theso imitations are so nicely mado is to deceive all but good jiulges. The hunting of the sabio foriuorly feil to the lot of condenmed crimináis, who were sent from Russia into these wild and extensivo forests. These men wero obliged to furnish a certain numbor of skins every year, and, wero punished if the specified number was not provided. The sabio is also killed by Rnssian soldiers, who are sent to these vast wilds for that purposo, They too aro required to secure a given mimbcr of skins annually; and aro allowed to shoot with only a single ball - or with a crossbow with blunt arrows- lest they spoil the skin. As an encouragement to the huntera, thoy are allowed to sharo among themselves all skins they are ablo to obtain in exoess of tho number required of thein by the government. This, in the course of several years, amounts to no inconsiderable sum. A colonel, during his seven years term of service, usually gains about twelve hundred dollars for his share, and tho privates abont two hundred dollars for