CARNIVORA. 
THE FERRET. LE FURET. 
Mustela Furo, 
It should seem that Cuvier is right in considering 
this to be a mere albinose variety of the polecat, at 
least if the generative faculty be made a test of 
variety, for they will produce an offspring partaking 
of the appearance of both. The ferret is smaller 
than the polecat, and is of a uniform lighter colour. 
The eyes are red. 
It does not appear to be indigenous either in 
France or England, but to have been imported from 
the northern parts of Africa, as reported by Strabo ; 
for when a ferret is lost here, as is very common in 
the chase, in summer, it is generally understood, that 
it does not survive the following winter. As we are 
enabled to turn its sanguinary inclinations and pre- 
dacious habits (which are, perhaps, not much in- 
ferior to those of the polecat) to our advantage, the 
ferret is fostered and preserved by art in our climate, 
which would soon destroy it if left to nature. 
It is bred in this country in casks or boxes, and 
fed on bread and milk, with flesh occasionally, to 
encourage its carnivorous appetite. In this state it 
is tolerably docile and gentle, and when of age for 
the purpose is trained to enter the burrows of rabbits 
and rats, being previously muzzled, to prevent its 
destroying the game. Its appearance alone is suffi- 
