THE FERRET; 303 



Vigilance in quest of vermin. 



druped is of the greatest utility, being extremely 

 active and vigilant in the pursuit of vermin, 

 which will not remain within scent of it. 



A very young ferret will sometimes attack the 

 largest and fiercest rat, which frequently drugs 

 it about a considerable time, before it is able to 

 subdue it. 



Attempts have frequently been made to main- 

 tain these animals on ship-board, for the purpose 

 of destroying the rats, which are so prejudicial 

 to vessels, and their cargoes; but this mode of 

 life appears to agree with them so ill, that it is 

 very seldom they can be preserved any length of 

 time. 



Some writers have been inclined to doubt, 

 whether or not the polecat and ferret were ani- 

 mals of two different species; perhaps their near 

 resemblance in colour, first gave rise to this un- 

 certainty, bur this doubt now seems cleared up, 

 by proof: a native of temperate climates, the 

 polecat is an animal wild like the marten ; whereas 

 the ferret, originally an inhabitant of hot coun- 

 tries, can only exist in our climate, in a domestic 

 state. 



To this species may he referred the vansire, 

 or Madagascar weasel, which differs from the 

 former only in the number of its grinding teeth 

 and the length of its tail. 



Buffon likewise mentions another animal of 

 this species, under the name of nems, resembling 

 203 



