As the winter approaches the hair becomes longer and lighter in its colours and it begins to loosen in May, being then much worn on the sides from the animal rubbing itself against trees and stones.

It becomes grayish and almost white before it is completely shed.
The Indians form their robes of the skins procured in autumn when the hair is short.

Towards the spring the larvae of the oestrus, attaining a large size, produce so many perforations in the skins that they are good for nothing.

The cicatrices only of these holes are to be seen in August but a fresh set of ova have in the meantime been deposited.* (*Footnote.

"It is worthy of remark that in the month of May a very great number of large larvae exist under the mucous membrane at the root of the tongue and posterior part of the nares and pharynx.