THE FEKBET. 133 



known how far he has run. This, however, should 

 be carefully handled, where any danger exists of its 

 becoming entangled with the roots of trees, or any 

 other substances of a like kind. Ferreting should 

 not be begun earlier than October, as the young- 

 rabbits are not till then strong or resolute enough to 

 break ground freely. The ferret should be earthed 

 to windward ; and the person in charge of him 

 should be perfectly silent. The shooter should so 

 place himself, as to have the whole of the burrows, 

 or as much of them as possible, within command of 

 his eye and his gun. He will find it add much to 

 his sport to have some one in attendance with a 

 reserve gun, who will also load as fast as he fires. 

 The subjoined hints on ferreting were furnished to a 

 friend of ours, by a practical hand of the craft in 

 Essex : 



" The small polecat ferret is decidedly the most 

 active, eager, and best. The ferret should be handled 

 frequently when young, that it may be quite familiar 

 to the touch, otherwise it becomes shy after it has 

 been used a few times, and is very troublesome to 

 catch towards evening, or when the least tired. It 

 should never be fed for eight or ten hours at least, 

 before hunting. Young rats, birds, or rabbits' 

 entrails, are at all times good food for the ferret, 

 and are to be recommended when they can be pro- 

 cured. The ferret may be used any time during the 

 day till four o'clock, except in the depth of winter, 

 when it is advisable never to hunt it after three 



