Miniver

1st Marquess of Bath  [by Sir Thomas Lawrence]

A plain white fur, said to be the belly part of the skin of the Siberian squirrel. It is used in ornamenting the parliament robes of peers. Anciently also spelt Menever.

The mantles worn by peers in the House of Lords are termed Parliamentary Robes. The rank of the bearer is distinguished by the number of rows or guards of miniver or ermine on the mantle: a Duke has four rows; a Marquis, three and a half; a Viscount, two and a half; and a Baron, two. Those of a Viscount and Baron are plain white fur.

See Mantle