FERRIS'. 49 



Polecat, or Fifchet. Very abundant in the neigh- 

 bourhood of farms, in some parts of England, these ani- 

 mals often commit great ravages in poultry-houses. They 

 likewise destroy rabbits and other game. In their 

 general habits of life they are nearly allied to the mar- 

 tins. During the summer they usually reside in woods, 

 thick brakes, and the neighbourhood of rabbit-warrens. 

 In these situations their retreats are seldom of greater 

 depth than from about five to seven feet ; and such is 

 their voracity, that a single family of Polecats, if undis- 

 turbed, would be able, in some instances, to destroy a 

 whole warren. They have been known, occasionally, to 

 prey on fish. Their voice is a somewhat deep and hollow 

 growl. The skins of such of the animals as are killed 

 in winter, are reckoned more valuable as furs, than those 

 which are killed at any other season of the year. The 

 smell of the Polecat is proverbially fetid. Towards the 

 beginning of summer they produce their offspring, which 

 are usually from three to six in number. In the north- 

 ern regions these animals sometimes become white in 

 winter. 



The general length of the Polecat is about seventeen 

 inches, and that of the tail from three to six inches. 

 The legs are short ; and the tail is covered with longish 

 hair, but is not, as in the martins, particularly bushy 

 towards the end. The colour of the fur is a deep 

 chocolate, nearly approaching to black. The ears are 

 rounded, and, as well as the muzzle, are tipped with 

 white. 



Ferret. An inhabitant, originally, of Africa, but im- 

 ported into this country from Spain, the Ferret is ren- 

 dered of considerable use in a domestic state. It is chiefly 

 employed by the proprietors of rabbit-warrens, for the 



