282 THE POLECAT-FERRET. 



cruel. Not many years ago, it was the general custom to sew up the lips of the poor creature 

 every time that it was used for hunting, and elaborate descriptions of this process are given 

 in the sporting books of the period. Leathern muzzles are made especially for the purpose, 

 and are the best that can be adopted ; but in their absence, the Ferret' s mouth can be effect- 

 ually closed by means of two pieces of string, one of which is placed round the neck and the 

 other under the jaws, and the four ends tied together at the back of the neck. 



Almost any Ferret will enter a rabbit-burrow and drive out the inmates, for the rabbits do 

 not even think of resisting their pursuer, and flee before him with all their might. But there 

 are comparatively few Ferrets that will venture to enter a rat-hole, especially after they have 

 suffered once or twice from the sharp teeth of those voracious rodents. If the Ferret is accus- 

 tomed to chase rabbits, it becomes totally useless for the purposes of the rat-catcher, for it 

 will not venture even to face a well-grown and vicious old rat, and much less will it dare to 

 enter the burrow. After suffering from the bite of a rat, the Ferret is seized with a very great 

 respect for a rat's teeth, and will not willingly place itself within reach of those sharp-edged 

 weapons. As has been graphically said by a practical rat-catcher, to force such a Ferret into 

 a rat-hole is "like cramming a cat into a boot, and as for hunting, it is out of the question." 



When a Ferret is possessed of sufficient skill and courage to face its long- tailed foes, and 

 has been perfectly trained to the service, it can achieve wonders in open fight, and is a most 

 valuable animal. As a general fact, a large gray old rat will beat off a Ferret, if it can only 

 back itself into a comer, so as to prevent an attack from behind ; but when the Ferret is well 

 trained to the business, it becomes a most destructive rat-slayer. There is a very graphic 

 narrative in Mr. J. Rod well's work on rats, which not only shows the wonderfvd powers of the 

 Ferret, but gives a good description of the modes of attack and defence which are practised 

 by both animals. 



' ' One evening I called upon an acquaintance of mine, and found him just going to decide 

 a wager respecting a large male Ferret of the polecat breed, which was to destroy fifty rats 

 within the hour. It must be borne in mind that this Ferret was trained for the purpose. 



' ' The rats were placed in a large square measuring eight or ten feet from corner to corner. 

 The Ferret was put in, and it was astonishing to see the systematic way in which he set about 

 his work. Some of the larger rats were very great cowards, and surrendered with scarcely a 

 struggle ; while some of the smaller, or three-parts-grown ones, fought most desperately. One 

 of these drew my particular attention. The Ferret, in making his attacks, was beaten off sev- 

 eral times, to his great discomfiture ; for the rat bit him most severely. At last the Ferret 

 bustled the fight, and succeeded in getting the rat upon its back, with one of his feet upon the 

 lower part of its belly. In this position they remained for some minutes, with their heads 

 close to each other and their mouths wide open. The Ferret was rather exhausted with his 

 former conflicts, and every move he made the rat bit him. At last he lost his temper, and 

 making one desperate effort, he succeeded in getting the rat within his deadly grasp. He 

 threw himself upon his side, and drawing the rat close to him, he fixed his teeth in its neck. 



"While thus engaged, a rat was running carelessly about. All at once, when near the 

 Ferret, it threw up its head as if a new idea had struck it : it retreated until it met with 

 another, and it was astonishing to see the instantaneous effect produced in the second. Off 

 they ran together to the corner where the Ferret lay. The fact was, they scented the blood of 

 either the rat or the Ferret, which in both was running in profusion. Without any further 

 ceremony they seized the Ferret fast by the crown of the head, and drew themselves up for a 

 comfortable suck of warm blood. The Ferret, feeling the smart, thought it was his old oppo- 

 nent that was struggling in his grasp, and bit his lifeless victim most furiously. Presently he 

 let go the dead rat and seemed astounded at the audacity of the others. He began to struggle, 

 and they seemed quite offended at being disturbed at their repast. He very soon, however, 

 succeeded in catching hold of one of them, and the other ran away ; but only for a few seconds. 

 The Ferret demolished the whole fifty considerably under the hour." 



Two kinds of Ferrets are employed for the purpose of hunting game ; the one, a creamy- 

 white creature, with bright pink eyes, and the other a much darker and fiercer-looking animal, 



