Ferrets Breeding. 



meal of bread and milk. However, if the jill carries meat 

 into her nest, forbear giving it, or at least prevent her 

 taking it into the sleeping compartment. 



When the young are six weeks old they begin to see and 

 get about a little ; and at two months will probably find their 

 way out at feeding time and be able to take their due share. 

 This is the time when they are liable to distemper, the 

 "sweating ill," or "the sweat," which often plays havoc 

 with them. When about two months and a half old, they 

 must be removed from the dam into a separate hutch, and 

 kept there alone for a fortnight or so, when they may be 

 turned away in the court, if one be provided, or else sepa- 

 rated into batches and deposited in the hutches. During the 

 time they are together, waiting for the possible outbreak 

 of the sweating sickness, they require feeding three or 

 four times a day on bread and milk alone, and should be 

 kept scrupulously clean. If any show signs of weakness, 

 they should be separated, as it invariably occurs that 

 "sweat" first shows itself on a weakly member of the brood. 



The principles of ferret breeding are not very complex; 

 but at the same time, if a healthy strain be desired, they 

 must not be ignored. For rabbits and rats, we maintain, 

 ferrets of equal size are desirable ; the idea of breeding 

 large ones for the former quarry, and small ones for the 

 latter, is mistaken. We always find large, lumbering ferrets 

 bad workers ; and diminutive specimens invariably show, 

 when fairly worked, that though the spirit is willing the 

 flesh is weak. Medium-sized animals, whether white, pole- 

 cat, or cross-bred ferrets, are the best in every way. Never 

 breed from bad workers, nor from sickly ones. When 



