Skivers, the grain splits of sheep skins (see p. 145) are extensively used for fancy articles. The majority are finished with a smooth grain for hat-bands, bookbinding, and linings. The grain of a sheep skin is, naturally, soft, and not very strong. To stiffen and strengthen the grain, an artificial layer, consisting of paste finishes, is often applied. Skins finished in this manner are termed "paste grain skivers." These are largely used for bookbinding and cheap purses. Sheep grains are sometimes given a finish somewhat similar to that of leather bags. This is produced in a printing machine by means of a copper roller which is run over the damp (but not too wet) leather. The skins are then described as "long-grain" skivers. The grain surface of sheep skins is particularly suitable for embossing, and wonderful imitations of all kinds of skins can be reproduced on skivers. The fancy leather trade is not confined to these imitations, however, as real lizard, seal, ichneumon, alligators, crocodile, shark, porpoise, snake, and even frog skins (Japanese) are utilised. INDEX Acid Swelling of Hides, 119 Adulterated Leather, 114 Ageing of Leather, 151 Algarobilla, 43 Alum Tannage, 150 Annatto, 136 Antelope Leather, 63 Anthrax, 27, 69 Arsenic Sulphide, 71 Bablah, 45, 107 Babool, 45, 107 Band-knife Splitting Machine, 54 Bark Mill, 93 Barkometer, 97 Bating, 86 Belting Leather, 133 Birch Bark, 106 ---- Tar Oil, 107 Bleaching Leather in Sun--_Frontispiece_ Boot Leather, 137 "Bottle" Tannage, 157 Borax, 64 "Box" Leather, 137 Buffing Cylinder, 54 Butts, 95 Butyrate of Ammonia, 85, 129 Butyric Acid, 85, 129 Canaigre, 45 Cape Sheep, 153 Catechol Tannins, 46 Caustic Soda, 66 Celavina, 43 Chamois Leather, 18, 144 Chestnut Oak, 37 ---- Tree, 36 Chrome-quebracho Tan Liquor, 32 Chrome Sole Leather, 125 ---- Tanning, 108 Cod Oil, 100, 120, 146 Collodion, 136 Colouring Pits, 94 Combination Tannages, 111 "Crestanol," 156 "Crust" Leather, 151 Currying, 133, 135 Cutch, 46 Dehairing Hides, 71 ---- Knife, 80 ---- Machine, 82 Dehydration, 2 Depilatories, 78, 149 Disinfection of Hides, 2 Divi-divi, 43 Doling, 153 Dressing Leathers, 102 ---- of Leather, 112 Drenching, 89 "Dri-ped" Leather, 129 Drum-tanned Leather, 103 Drum Tumbler, 66 Drying of Leather, 123 Dust Colours, 154 Dyeing, 112, 155 Dye-wood Extracts, 139, 152, 155 Ellagic Acid, 47, 121 Enzymes, 72 "Erodin," 88 Evolution of Leather Manufacture, 1 Extracts, 47 Faller Stocks, 66, 146 Fancy Leathers, 156 Fat Liquors, 139 Fellmongering, 145 Finishing, 112, 122, 127 Flaying: Mechanical method, 21 ----: Pim's method, 24