82 THE . RABBIT 



CHAPTER III 



FERRETING 



When the Romans introduced the rabbit into Italy 

 they introduced the custom of hunting it with ferrets ; ' 

 and when they carried the same animal into Britain 

 they imported the same custom with it. The great 

 reason for the Roman introduction of the former 

 animal into both was the pleasure which they took in 

 hunting it with the latter. The Britons adopted what 

 the Romans practised, and have transmitted to us, 

 their successors, the Roman-Spanish hunt, and the 

 Roman-Spanish name for the animal employed in it ; 

 denominating the latter Viverra, in Welsh Gttivaer, 

 and in Irish Firead, or Ferret. 



The early use of ferrets is made apparent from 

 several sources of information. They were employed 

 by Genghis Khan ^ in his imperial hunting circle at 

 Termed in 122 1, and are mentioned by the Emperor 



' Pliny, Hist. Nat. lib. x. cap. 21. 



'^ Ranking, Historical Researches on the Sports of the Mon- 

 gols and Romans (1826), p. 33. 



