226 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



fome degree lis ferocity. Warreners are therefore obli- 

 ged to procure an intercourfe between the female and the 

 Foumart, The produce is a breed of a much darker co- 

 lour than the Ferret, partaking more of that of the Fou- 

 mart. 



Its length is about fourteen inches ; that of the tail 

 five : Its nofe is fharper than that of the "Weafel or the 

 Foumart; its ears are round ; and its eyes red and fiery: 

 The colour of the whole body is a very pale yellow. 



The Ferret is naturally fuch an enemy to the Rabbit, 

 that if a dead Rabbit be laid before a young Ferret, it 

 infbntly feizes upon it, although it has never feen one 

 before : If a living Rabbit be prefented to it, the Ferret 

 is ftiil more eager, feizes it by the neck, winds itfelf 

 round it, and continues to fuck its blood till it be fa- 

 tiated. — When employed in the bufinefs of the warren, 

 it rauft be muzzled, that it may not kill the Rabbits in 

 their holes ; but only oblige them to come out, that the 

 warrener may catch them in his nets. If the Ferret be 

 fufFered to go in without a muzzle, or fliould difengage 

 itfelf from it whilft in the hole, there is great danger of 

 lofing it : For, after fatisfying itfelf with blood, it falls 

 afleep ; and it is then almoft impoffible to come at it. — 

 The mod ufual methods of recovering the Ferret are, by 

 digging it out, or fmoking the hole. If thefe do not 

 fucceed, it continues during the fummer among the Rab- 

 bit holes, and lives upon the prey it finds there; but 

 being unable to endure the cold of the winter, is fure to 

 perifh. 



It is fometimes employed with great fuccefs in killing 

 Rats, and is frequently kept in granaries and mills for 

 that purpofe. It is extremely vigilant in the purfuit of 

 them, and will not fuffer one to live where it is. — A 



