THE STORY OF THE FERRET . 
457 
rather than attempt to escape. It is also important that no one should stand 
immediately in front of the entrance to the hole. When a ferret enters a 
burrow in which there are several rabbits, a prodigious scuffling and scurry¬ 
ing immediately takes place in the interior; and after a few minutes, if not 
frightened by sounds above, the occupants soon begin to bolt in rapid succes¬ 
sion at the various exits. Like the other members of its tribe, a ferret almost 
invariably seizes a rabbit immediately behind the ear. 
THE FERRET AND ITS PREY. 
Ferrets are bred chiefly for rabbit and rat-hunting, both in Europe and the 
.United States. Although they learn to know their masters to a certain extent, 
they are untrustworthy animals, and should be handled with caution. The 
ferret has no strong local attachments, and, therefore, requires to be strictly 
secured. It is also- very susceptible to' cold. 
The ferret is of a light yellowish color, changing almost to white in winter. 
It is about fourteen inches long, with a tail of six inches. The eyes are pink. 
The American species is known as the black-footed ferret and is found 
in the Rocky Mountain region. 
