88 THE RABBIT 



objectionable than the time-honoured ' bag ' which 

 most keepers and warreners use to save themselves 

 trouble. Carried in this, a ferret is never at rest, 

 and is so cramped and worried as to lose half its 

 energy for work. Should the bag get wet, as is often 

 the case, either from a downpour of rain or from 

 being laid down on wet grass, the ferret is made 

 thoroughly miserable, and will take an early oppor- 

 tunity of ' laying up ' in the first comfortable burrow 

 it enters. The best way to carry ferrets about is in a 

 small wooden box with a rope handle. It should be 

 perfectly dry, and one half may be partitioned off, with 

 a small hole for ingress and egress, and be littered 

 down with fine shavings of willow, or deal ; or, failing 

 either of these, straw. Carried about in a box like 

 this, they will get rest, and be much more lively when 

 wanted for use. 



In * entering ' young ferrets it is a good plan to 

 let them run with the mother, who will soon initiate 

 them in working a rabbit burrow. If they are slow 

 to follow her down a hole, she can be used with a 

 line and pulled back from time to time to entice them 

 forward. It is as well to give a young ferret its first 

 chance in a burrow where it will be sure to find a 

 rabbit, as in a short sandy hole, and to reward it with 

 a kill. Nor should it be worked too long at first, but 



