288 RODENTIA. 



Most of the above-mentioned skins are dyed brown 

 or black. They are sometimes clipped and dyed dark- 

 brown as imitation Fur Seal, or clipped and dyed black, 

 or they are dj^ed as imitation Beaver, and a few are 

 dyed light-brown ; in fact, the fur of the Eabbit is used 

 more extensively than any other fur, except that of 

 the Musk-rat and Squirrel. It exceeds these in size, 

 is very cheap, and is of almost universal use, being 

 employed on the Continent, in North America, and 

 some also in Australia. The fur is, however, not 

 otherwise desirable, as it soon wears out. Some white 

 skins are clipped and dyed Snowflake, the ground of 

 the fur being dyed, and having the tips of the hair 

 white. 



Eabbit fur is used for capes, trimmings, caps, boas, 

 muffs, imitation Seal bags, and edgings for boots and 

 gloves. Some are also made into round balls for fringes 

 to garments, and hat and bonnet ornaments. Natural 

 skins, blue and white, are used for hats, glove-linings, 

 and other purposes. Many skins are used for cutting ; 

 and the clipped skins, dyed brown, are used for the 

 mantles and caps of watermen in England. Some skins 

 are exported to the United States, Canada, and Japan. 



The fur of the tame Rabbit varies in strength in the 

 various colours ; thus the grey are the strongest, the 

 fawn rank next, then the mottled, the black, and last of 

 all the white. 



When collected by the scavenger, or rag and bones 

 collector, a skin is exchanged for a halfpenny, or orange, 

 or at most a penny. A certain number being thus 

 obtained, they are sold to collectors, who sell them 

 again to dyers or merchants. 



It is quite a sight to enter the warehouse of a Eabbit- 

 skin collector. Thousands of skins hang from the roof, 



