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THE FERRET. (Mustelafuro. Linn.) 



The ferret was originally a native of Africa. Strabo mentions 

 its importation from that quarter of the world into Spain,* from 

 whence it has become distributed over Britain, France, Italy, 

 Germany, and other European countries. Owing to the obscurity 

 which prevails respecting the natural colour and appearance of 

 this animal as it exists in Africa, many persons have concluded 

 that it is merely an albino, or white variety, of our common 

 fitch ; but the geographical range of the latter is limited to the 

 northern and temperate parts of Europe, where it bears a con- 

 siderable degree of cold with impunity, and pursues its prey for 

 miles across the snow ; while the ferret perishes if exposed to 

 the cold of a moderate winter in our country, in whose southern 

 parts, even, it requires artificial warmth. Moreover, if the two 

 animals be compared, differences will be observed, not only in 

 their colours, but in their size and form. The ferret is somewhat 

 smaller and more slender j its head is rather narrower j its 

 cranium a little higher at the vertex -, and its muzzle longer and 

 more pointed. 



The length of the ferret from the nose to the end ofthe body 

 is one foot two inches, or, including the tail, one foot seven 

 inches and a half. The eyes are fiery red, or pink ; and the 

 body is usually of a yellowish colour, with more or less white 

 intermixed, owing to the long fur being partly white, whilst the 

 * Strabo, edit. Casaubon, lib. iii. p. 144. 



