or hair which grows on the back of the pig commonly goes by the name of "bristles." The best are the produce of the wild hog, and the quality deteriorates in direct proportion to the degree of cultivation of the animal. Russia supplies the largest quantity and of the best quality. Siberia, and the district of Sarapoul, in the government of Wiatka, are noted for the best. Superior descriptions are obtained from the pigs which are fed on the refuse of the tallow manufactories. The Russian exports of bristled in 1877 were 139,836 pods (of 36 lb.), the largest quantity for 12 years, but, on the whole, they are declining. Revel shipped to Great Britain 1057 poods in 1878, and 714 in 1879. French bristles have the highest reputation in the market, being white, soft, firm, and elastic. The product is estimated at about 2 million lb. annu ally. German bristles (which include large quantities of Russian, sent landwise to German ports) are the dirtiest. Servia grows enormous herds of pigs ; so also do Hungary and Roumania. Thee countries probably contribute not a little to the shipments from German, French, Dutch, and Belgian ports. American pig-hair is procured chiefly from the pork-curing establishments of Cincinnati and Chicago. The Chinese port of Shangbae shipped 681 piculs (of 1333 lb.), in 1878.
Bristles are assorted according to length and colour, and are tied in separate bundles, with the root-ends together, and packed in barrels. At Konigsberg, they are classified as 1st and 2nd grey crown, 1st and 2nd white crown, white and grey shoemakers', and white and grey long. The best and dearest are those for cobblers' use ; the others are made into brushes of various grades ; while a few are employed for stuffing. The price ranges from Is. to 7s. a lb., and is always advancing, while the supply decreases. Our imports in 1879 were :—From Russia, 708,694 lb., value 106,9981.; Germany, 556,934 lb., 89,1451.; China, 98,923 lb., 12,5921.; United States, 94,886 lb., 10,1101. ; France, 75,351 lb., 12,0651. ; Belgium, 41,525 lb., 47661. ; British E. Indies, 33,841 lb., 53141. ; other countries, 21,431 lb., 33981.; total, 1,631,585 lb., 244,3881. In 1853, we imported 3,237,059 lb.
Yak (Poephagus grunniens). —This animal, found in Thibet, China, Mongolia, &c., is covered with a coat of very long hair, and has a long, bushy tail. The prevailing colour is black, but several other tints occur. The hair is much finer than horse-hair, and is locally employed for making strong ropes. It is occasionally exported to Europe.