FERRET 

 FACTS AND FANCIES. 



CHAPTER I. 



HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION. 



CHE ferret is a native of Africa. The animal 

 was first domesticated in the northern 

 part of that continent, by the Egyptians, 

 hundreds of years ago. Long after its 

 first domestication it was taken across the Medi- 

 terranean Sea and introduced into Europe, from 

 which continent it lias spread to many part of 

 the civilized world. The first ferrets' in America 

 came from Spain, one of the divisions of 

 Southern Europe. Just the exact date that it 

 was brought across the Atlantic Ocean is not 

 known but it was not until late in the nineteenth 

 century, probably about the year 1875. The 

 animal has proven useful and beneficial when 

 rightly used. 



There are two varieties — white and dark or 

 brown. The white variety is called Albino or 

 English. It has a somewhat yellowish-white coat 

 of fur and hair and pink eyes. The other variety, 



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