196 Practical Game Preserving. 



of hutches is only advisable for breeding purposes, and we 

 consider the best ferret house to be a small paved court, 

 covered in indeed, for fifty ferrets or so, a small wooden 

 shed, of the style of the portable tool houses now offered for 

 sale. The court for, say, from twenty-five to fifty ferrets 

 should consist of a floor bricked or tiled, and the sides be of 

 wood about four feet high. The measurements are length, 

 1 2ft.; width, 6ft. This must be divided by a partition through- 

 out into equal portions. Three feet from the inner end of 

 each division a portion is cut off by a foot high parting board 

 made to slide up and down, and this part of the run is again 

 divided into three parts in similar manner, by parting boards 

 of i Sin. high rounded off at the outside corner. The first 

 division is provided with three round holes of 4in. diameter, 

 allowing entrance into each of the sleeping compartments. 

 Each side of the court is provided in similar way. By having 

 the several divisions made so as to fit together, they are 

 easily removed for cleaning. It will be seen that this court 

 permits of the dogs being kept apart from the Jills ; besides, 

 the division of the portion set apart for sleeping into three 

 separate dens prevents disagreement. Of course, the jills, 

 when with young or in heat, are removed to separate quarters 

 for the time being, and a hutch or two is necessary for the 

 purpose, as well as for special requirements, such as the 

 separation of a sick ferret or the like. 



The feeding of the stock is the next item which demands 

 attention ; and although most persons are agreed as to the 

 general nature of the food, some difference exists as to the 

 best time for feeding, particularly of those which are con- 

 tinually worked. The staple food should be bread and milk 



