186 The Naturalist in Siluria. 



between other species of Mustelidce known to be distinct, 

 as between the stoat and common weasel. These are so 

 graduated in size, the female stoat being little, if any, 

 larger than the male weasel, while so like in shape, /aciaZ 

 expression, and other respects, that were it not for the 

 stoat's bushy and black-tipped tail there would be some 

 difficulty in distinguishing the one from the other. Mere 

 general resemblance in shape and colour is not enough to 

 justify specific sameness ; besides, the polecat is usually 

 larger than the ferret, which would contradict the rule of 

 increase by domestication. As for the white ferret with 

 pink eyes, it is a lusus naturae of the " albino " kind, and 

 therefore not in the naturalist's category of species. 



WILD FERRETS. 



I think it highly probable that we have Wild Ferrets in 

 England ; that is, ferrets escaped from their owners and 

 living in a wild state — in short, become true /eros naturce. 

 I am led to this conclusion by some cases that have come 

 under my own observation, with others reported to me. 

 It is well known that ferrets when sent in after rabbits 

 often remain inside the burrow, and have either to be dug 

 out, waited for, or abandoned. When digging them out 

 is hopeless, from the nature of the ground, and to await 

 their coming forth inconvenient, they are frequently lost; 

 hence the cruel practice, still in vogue, I am sorry to say, 

 of stitching up their mouths, to prevent their indulging 

 in their bloodthirsty propensity when they have caught 

 the rabbit in the burrow. The general belief is, that 

 these defecting ferrets are recovered again, either by being 



