CULTURE OF FUR-BEARERS 261 



done the cement floor should be covered with a 

 deep layer of earth. 



At one end of this enclosure should be built 

 of strong, close meshed wire netting, a series 

 of cages, resting on a tight wooden floor, each 

 about 3 feet high, 8 or 10 feet long and about 

 4 feet wide. These are for the use of the 

 breeding females, one to each cage. In the 

 front of each should be a door large enough to 

 pass in and out a nesting-box about the size of 

 a raisin-box, with a small hole for admittance 

 of the animal, closed by a sliding door so that 

 she may be shut in if desirable. 



The remainder of the enclosure should be 

 divided in the middle by a fence of close wire 

 netting, guarded from digging and climbing 

 like the outer fence, forming two courts or 

 yards for exercise, etc. A small low door will 

 afford communication between these yards. 

 Water must be supplied in abundance run- 

 ning water if possible. There should be a 

 trough for each breeding-cage and a large 

 swimming tank which may be accessible from 

 both yards. The cost of such an outfit will 



