THE STORY OF THE FERRET. 
The ferret is one of the many animals that have given a word to the 
English language. The instinctive desire to' follow burrowing animals is the 
most striking peculiarity of the ferret, and his ability as a rat-catcher and 
rabbit-hunter is well known. It is this trait which has resulted in the verb 
“ferret,” meaning to' investigate. Detectives ferret out crimes and build up 
the clues which result in the arrest of the criminal. 
So wonderfully are these little creatures suited for the purpose of tracking 
the various burrowing animals, that man has taken one of them into' use as 
his assistant, training it to' follow rabbits and rats into their holes, and to drive 
them out, in order that he may kill them. Its long and slender body enables 
it to' wind its way through the narrow passages which those animals dig in 
the ground, and soi to: force them from a position in which they would other¬ 
wise be quite secure. 
In rabbit-catching the ferret is usually sent into' the hole either muzzled or 
attached to a coil of string, by which it can be withdrawn. If allowed to 
enter a rabbit-hole unmuzzled, or without a string, ferrets are very likely to 
remain in such good quarters, and to slaughter the occupants one after another. 
The usual plan is to stop all the entrances to' the burrows by means of small 
bag-like nets, in which the rabbits are caught when they bolt; but sometimes 
they are allowed to' bolt freely, and are either shot or coursed with dogs. In 
ferreting it is essential that those who are present should be perfectly silent, 
as otherwise the rabbits will prefer to be eaten alive by the ferret in their holes 
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