ANIMAL PRODUCTS 147 



Fish scales have been used for making artificial 

 flowers ; the quills of porcupines serve to decorate 

 the dresses of the Red Indians, and are also used 

 as fishing-floats and as penholders ; while the 

 larger plumes of such birds as geese, turkeys, 

 swans, etc., are converted into tooth-picks and 

 quill-pens. The plumage of birds is also in great 

 demand for the purpose of decorating ladies' hats, 

 etc., and even our pillows and mattresses are filled 

 with feathers and down. 



From the sheep we obtain wool ; from the horse 

 we get the hair which is used in stuffing sofas, 

 chairs, and mattresses ; while paint brushes are 

 made from the stiff bristles of the hog, as well as 

 from the hairs of the sable and the polecat or fitch. 

 Camel-hair brushes, it may be mentioned, are not 

 made from the animal of that name, but usually 

 from squirrel hair. They receive their name from 

 a Mr. Camel, who was the first to manufacture 

 them. Badger hair is frequently used in the 

 manufacture of shaving brushes ; and in the East 

 the long flowing tail of the yak is utilised for the 

 purpose of a fly-whisk or chowry. 



Oil is obtained from many kinds of animals, and 

 that from the blubber of various species of whales 

 is known commercially as train oil, and used largely 

 as a lubricant for machinery, in the dressing of 

 shammy leather, and in the process of wool-combing. 

 Neat's -foot oil is obtained by boiling down the feet 

 of cattle, and an excellent lamp oil has been prepared 

 from the bodies of cockchafers, which yield also a 

 grease that is used in Hungary for lubricating the 



