RABBIT-SKINS have a regular commercial value in consequence of the hair being well adapted for felting purposes; hence• they are collected in large numbers by the chiffoniers of this and other countries, and the hair itself is not unfrequently imported from Holland and Germany under the erroneous name of " cony-wool." Its chief use is in making the bodies of felt hats; and this is now done by machinery of very inge nious construction. It consists of a hollow cone of copper, of the size of the felt-cones required by the hatters. The cone is covered with perforations, and it fits on to a metal shaft of the diameter of its base by means of a collar, which can be. turned round by a band, so as to carry the perforated cone with it. At the bottom of the metal shaft is a fan, moved by machinery, which produces a strong downward draft, so that if the hairs are thrown against the cone, they are held tightly by the current of air through the.per forations, and as the cone regularly revolves, its outer surface becomes entirely coated with the rabbit-hair. When a sufficient thickness is obtained, the smooth copper cone.is easily drawn out, leaving a cone of wool, which is felted by the usual processes of wetting.
heating, etc. Another ingenious contrivance in this machine is to make the draught of air caused by the fan blow the rabbit-fur forward to the cone, so as to distribute it with am evenness which could not otherwise be attained.
The skins, after the hair has been removed from them, are sold to the glue-makers, and are usad—mixed with shreds of other skins—in the manufacture of glue and size. Besides these uses, the skins of rabbits are dressed as furs, in various ways, to supply the demand for cheap articles; and so skillfully is this branch of trade carried on, that admirable imitations of the rarer and more costly furs are made. Thus, ermine and miniver are made from white rabbit-skins, the black ones furnishing the spots; and the common variety is dressed and dyed various ways, to represent, the furs of dark colored animals. In the reign of Henry -VIII. rabbit-fur was valued very highly, and was worn by the nobles of the realm;. this is referred to in the charter of the Skinners' coin pany.
There has been a very large market in the United States for the imitation furs pre pared from rabbit-skins, to which country British manufacturers have largely exported.