294 Poachers and Poaching. 



of the group to which it belongs ; and this from 

 the fact that it is a true breeding albino, having 

 the white fur and pink eyes peculiar to this 

 variety. Under domestication it breeds more 

 frequently and is more prolific than in its wild 

 state. It is somewhat smaller than the polecat, 

 but readily breeds with that animal, and produces 

 young intermediate in character between the 

 parent species. It is owing to this fact that we 

 have now two well-defined varieties one of a 

 brow r n colour, and known as the polecat ferret, 

 the other the more common white variety. 

 The first is said to be the more hardy and vicious ; 

 and it is to secure these qualities that keepers on 

 large warrens cross their ferrets with the wild 

 polecat. 



In this country lerrets are kept more for work 

 than as pets, and are used for making rabbits 

 bolt from their burrows. To do this scarcely 

 any training is necessary, and three young ferrets 

 which we used the other day worked as well 

 as their more experienced parents. There are 

 various reasons why white ferrets are to be 

 preferred as opposed to the brown polecat 

 variety. They are usually more docile and 

 pleasant to handle. A brown ferret is apt to 

 be nipped up by a sharp dog in mistake for a rat 

 or rabbit, while a white one is always apparent, 

 even when moving amongst the densest herbage. 

 This specially applies to night time, and hence 



