68 JACK RABBITS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



jack rabbits bring $2 apiece, and they have been shipped to various 

 jioints in the United States and Canada, and even to England. Last 

 winter (1804:-9r)), between UOO and 300 were furnished to the St. Louis 

 Coursing Asvsociation alone. 



SKINS. 



Kabbit skins are used in greater quantities than those of any other 

 animals except the true fur-bearing mammals. At present skins of 

 jack rabbits have little commercial value, and no attempt appears to 

 be made to utilize them on a large scale. It seems strange that where 

 the animals are slaughtered in such numbers the skins are not made 

 to yield a fair profit, as is done with those of other species. Their use 

 for fur seems to be restricted mainly to the Indians. 



The Piutes and other tribes of the Great Basin formerly relied to a 

 considerable extent on the rabbit for furnishing their scanty snpi)ly of 

 clothing, and in Idaho, Xevada, and Utah killed large numbers of 

 jack rabbits for this purpose. 



Says Bancroft in speaking of the Indians of this region: "On the 

 barren plains of Nevada, where theie is no large game, the rabbit fur- 

 nishes the only clothing. The skins are sewn together in the form of a 

 cloak, which is thrown over the shoulders, or tied about the body with 

 thongs of the same. In warm weather, or- when they can not obtain 

 rabbit skins, men, women, and children are, for the most part, in a state 

 of nudity." (isative Eaces of the Pacific States, I, 1874, pp. 423-424.) 



Mr. Vernon Bailey, chief field naturalist of the division, who has 

 traveled extensively in this region and seen the robes in use among 

 the Indians, has kindly contributed the following notes: 



A <roocl robe serves an ludiau both for clothing antl for betiding. It is exceed- 

 ingly light, soft, and warm, and is easily carried in a small roll on the horse or in 

 the pack when not in nse. A Pinte with an old shirt, a pair of breeches, moccasins, 

 and one of these robes is well equipped for traveling, even in cold weather. In the 

 wickiup the robe is thrown down and serves as a seat during the day and for a bed 

 at night. 



Robes of jack rabbit skins are common articles of clothing among the Plate and 

 Mohave Indians. I have seen them among the Pyramid Lake Indians, the Piutes in 

 Reese River Valley, Nevada, and the Mohaves at Fort Mohave, Ariz. They are usually 

 6 or 7 feet s(iuare, large enough to wrap around the body and entirely cover the 

 person. They are made of twisted strips of jack rabbit skins laid parallel close 

 together and fastened at short intervals witli strings. The skins, apparently, are 

 not tanned, but the robes are as soft and i)liable as a blanket, and by twisting the 

 strips the fur is thrown on both sides. Tlicsc robes are generally valued at $6 to $8> 

 but the Indians seem reluctant to ])art with them. One old Mohave upon being 

 asked to sell his robe, refused, saying: " Me no make 'em. Hualapai make 'em, me 

 buy 'em." 



Jack rabbits were doubtless used also by the Indians of California, 

 although to a less extent. The Miwok, a tribe whose territorry 

 extended from the crest of the Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin 

 Kiver, an<l from the Cosnmnes to the Fresno in a part of the Sau Joa- 



