FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



363 



female African. The progeny grew to be large and strong, 

 but would never allow themselves to be handled only by 

 myself, and even I had to be ever on the lookout for their 

 treachery; and one singular characteristic with them was, 

 that they ever wished to be playing in the water, like a 

 mink, whenever the opportunity offered itself. Although 

 any variety are quite fond of bathing at times. I think 

 it beneficial, as cleanliness is a prevailing necessity with the 

 ferret, both for promotion of their health and appearance, 

 as filthy cages or rooms are ofttimes the occasion of disease 

 and death from lice, fleas, foot rot, distemper, &c. ; and 

 they should never be kept in a room with or near dogs that 

 have distemper, as they are sure to take the disease, which 

 causes death in nine cases out of ten. 



They generally bring two litters of young each year, 

 having from five to nine, and sometimes even more, at 

 a time, the period of gestation being nine weeks. The 

 young, being entirely devoid of hair when born, must be 

 kept in a warm room until three or four weeks old, when 

 they are more able to stand the cold ; and being able to get 

 around, now need plenty of room, and will soon learn to 

 drink milk, which they should have a plentiful supply of, 

 as it is quite necessary to increase their growth, and thus 

 relieve the mother as soon as possible. In all cases the 

 male must be removed from the female before she gives 

 birth to the young, or he will destroy them. 



The principal food of the ferret is milk, bread and milk, 

 and a small piece of fresh meat two or three times a week, 

 with a good clean nest aside from the feeding-room. They 

 vary considerable in size, length, and weight, the desirable 

 point to attain being greatest length of body, with smallest 

 circumference of skull and shoulders, and brightness of eye. 

 They generally weigh two or three pounds at maturity, 

 although I once had a pair the female measuring twenty- 

 eight and a half inches from tip of the nose to end of the 

 tail when straightened, and weighing four and a half pounds, 

 the male measuring about the same in length, and weighing 

 five pounds. Large ones as this, though, are very scarce, 

 and really are not so useful for hunting rats, as there are 

 some places the large ones could not get, but are more strong 

 and useful for rabbits. Two old males should never be turned 

 in a cage together, as they are very apt to attack each other, 

 when it is almost certain death to one or the other, or both 

 of them. Great care should be taken with newly imported 

 ferrets until they become acclimated ; for instance, kept 

 warm, and in feeding avoid sour milk, as it is likely to 

 make them purge, which sometimes causes death. In hand- 

 ling strange or young ferrets, put on a pair of thick gloves, 

 and handle carefully and very often, and you will soon get 

 them adapted to it, so they will mind it no more than a 

 kitten, and are a general favorite with you. 



Hoping I have not intruded too long upon your time and 

 space, I am, very respectfully, Bttkr Hollis. 



HOBNELLSVILLE, N. Y. 



I JEJVI S. 



In order to make our "Item " column as interesting as possible, we 

 would be obliged to our readers for contributions of original matter, how- 

 ever shorts — yes, let it be condensed and to the point, in a variety of 

 style — facts and fancies interesting to fanciers. 



8®° Clipping Wings. — Do not cut the quills square off, 

 but clip each side of them with the scissors, leaving about 

 one inch at the end, which disfigures the fowl less and also 

 prevents flying. 



$g^° A gentleman of Louisville has a dog, a pointer. The 

 dog ran up the steps of a house and refused to come down. 

 His master followed and found A. Partridge on the door 

 plate. This illustrates the force of instinct. 



$3?" A little boy hearing of several heads of cattle being 

 burned , asked his " parient ' ' if their tails were not burned also. 



8Q?= Seth Green is experimenting with the grayling, and 

 hopes to make this fish a substitute for trout in some of our 

 depleted trout streams. In the grayling the spots are black 

 where in a trout they are red ; but the marking and rows 

 are very similar, except that they appear only about half 

 way down the body. In color an emerald green shows from 

 the top of the back, which changes to a light silvery color 

 upon the lower part of his sides and belly. They grow from 

 twelve to fourteen inches long. Their spawn is about one- 

 third the size of that of the brook trout. The fact that they 

 spawn in the spring, instead of the fall like trout, is greatly 

 in favor of the hardiness of the grayling, which is of great 

 importance in their value for transplantation. 



ff*g™ Dust Baths foe Poultry. — Cleanliness is impor- 

 tant in fowl-houses, for experience shows that poultry are 

 unfavorably affected by the emanations from filthy quarters, 

 and, besides, working in places where roosts and floors are 

 covered with the droppings, is decidedly uupleasant. Dry 

 earth, in the form of powder, scattered everywhere, will 

 absorb the bad odors, giving a wholesome atmosphere to 

 the hen-house, and at the same time preserve the manure in 

 the least offensive condition. Besides these purposes, a box 

 of dry earth should be in a convenient corner of every fowl 

 house, for the fowls to roll in. Dust from the highway is 

 the most convenient. Replace the same by an equal quan- 

 tity of good gravel, and the public will be the gainer. 



[jgg- I have known a great many cats, and have never 

 had occasion to change the opinion I first formed of them 

 many years ago. They are very grateful creatures, seldom 

 forgetting a kindness. If you take in a starved cat out of 

 the street, and gradually restore it to health and comfort, it 

 will never forget the obligation it is under to you. I have 

 repeatedly done this, and have always gained a firm friend 

 in the animal so rescued from poverty. 



Cats have very good manners; they like to say "good- 

 morning " to you after their fashion, when they first see 

 you in the morning. Some people say cats have no real 

 attachment to the human race; this I know to be a great 

 mistake. They love people, and are very jealous in their 

 fondness. Tour cat will be very friendly out of doors with 

 your neighbor's cat, but will by no means allow her to come 

 into your house, or be caressed by you, showing great 

 anxiety if you notice the stranger. 



The purring noise that cats make to express pleasure, is a 

 very pleasant sound, and never loud enough to disturb any 

 one. Indeed, one great charm in these animals is the noise- 

 lessness with which they move about. A French writer 

 says that a cat is the only animal which is allowed entire 

 liberty. "We chain our dogs, we put birds into cages ; but 

 our cats go and come as they please. Cats are accused of 

 two faults — of stealing and of being treacherous. The best 

 remedy for the first is to feed them well. The charge of 

 treachery cannot be borne out. If you hurt a cat, she 

 thinks she has a right to punish you for it; but it is not 

 necessary to hurt them. 



