RABBIT. • 281 



into wholes and halves, quarters, racks, and suckers, the 

 northern districts producing, as usual, the largest, best 

 furred, and most expensive skins. 



The skins for felting are first cut open, then washed, 

 the longer hairs then pulled off by women furnished 

 with long wooden knives. The fur is then cut off by 

 machinery, and afterwards sorted, and blown by air. 

 The fur of the back, ribs, cheeks and tail is sold 

 separately, and by the pound. The price for the best 

 Coney back wool is 5s. to 7s. 6d. per lb. 



The pelt is sold for making gelatine, jujubes, etc. 



Coney wool is chiefly used in New York for the 

 manufacture of felt hats. It felts, or adheres together, 

 with great readiness. The fur is placed in small hand- 

 fuls into a tray, whence it passes through the blower, 

 which drives the fur on to a revolving copper disc. The 

 fur gradually accumulates, and forms a thick covering, 

 which is removed, and washed, and is then ready for 

 making soft felt hats. 



A certain number of skins are " carroted " or silvered ; 

 that is, brushed with acid before cutting. 



About 2,000,000 Babbit skins are used annually for 

 cutting. Fur-cutting was practised as early as the 

 year 1667. 



About twenty to thirty years ago, wild Babbits were 

 introduced into Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. 



At first a few bales of skins were sent to London 

 annually, but now from 400 to 1,500 bales are sold by 

 public auction six times a year. In October, 1891, there 

 were as many as 2,025 bales offered. As each bale of 

 fair quality skins contains 200 to 250 dozen skins, and 

 inferior bales contain many more on an average, the 

 enormous quantity of 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 skins 

 is imported annually. 



