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    Ferrets & Ferreting - A Practical Manual on Breeding, Managing, Training and Working Ferrets
    Ferrets & Ferreting - A Practical Manual on Breeding, Managing, Training and Working Ferrets
    Ferrets & Ferreting - A Practical Manual on Breeding, Managing, Training and Working Ferrets
    Ebook71 pages53 minutes

    Ferrets & Ferreting - A Practical Manual on Breeding, Managing, Training and Working Ferrets

    By Wiliam Carnegie

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    About this ebook

    Originally published in 1880, this classic manual on ferrets and ferreting contains a great deal of advice and information still of much practical use to today's ferreters. Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing the most important of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include: The Ferret and its Congeners; Ferret Keeping; Ferret Hutches; Ferret Courts; Feeding and General Management; Breeding Ferrets; Crossing Training and Working Ferrets to Rabbits and Rats; Working Ferrets for Shooting; Hints on Shooting For Ferrets; Diseases of Ferrets
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRead Books Ltd.
    Release dateDec 21, 2012
    ISBN9781447487449
    Ferrets & Ferreting - A Practical Manual on Breeding, Managing, Training and Working Ferrets

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      Ferrets & Ferreting - A Practical Manual on Breeding, Managing, Training and Working Ferrets - Wiliam Carnegie

      INDEX.

      CHAPTER I.

      THE FERRET AND ITS CONGENERS.*

      OF the many notable and interesting animals which constitute the great natural history family of the Mustelidœ not the least notable is the ferret. Though by some authors accorded specific rank, and stated to be an introduction from Spain to Africa, yet in reality it is nothing more than an albino (or practically so) domesticated variety of the polecat. Indeed, the latter has been kept in captivity and worked against rats after the manner of ferrets. The so-called black ferret is nothing more than a male polecat in his new coat. The ferret has for its immediate congeners in the genus Mustela the martens, the polecat, the stoat, and the common weasel, whilst allied to it are the otter, the badger, and the skunk. Of the mustelines proper, what one says regarding the general characteristics of form, habit, and nature of one, is more or less true of all together. They all possess the same low, elongated, lithe, muscular bodies; they are all predatory, bloodthirsty, determined of purpose, and relentless; they are constitutionally hardy, prolific, foul of odour, yet withal of scrupulously clean habits; their haunts vary only in having their peculiarities more or less pronounced. Between the martens and the polecats and weasels there is a great difference as regards the dentition. The former have four pairs of pre-molars in each jaw; the latter two have but three.

      FIG. 1.—A POLECAT FERRET.

      There is no need to enter into any lengthy description of the person of the ferret; its yellowish-white body, sharp, intelligent aspect, and curious, pink eyes, are features which have made it universally known (see Frontispiece). This is the common ferret; but there is also the polecat ferret, the result of a cross between the two animals. The latter partakes more of the outward aspect of the wild polecat, whilst retaining the general nature of the ferret. As a rule the cross is larger than the ordinary kind; but curiously enough the smallest ferrets seen are usually also of this variety. Opinions differ as to which is the better sort of the two for work: but it is reasonable to suppose that, on the whole, polecat ferrets are more agile in pursuit than white ferrets, which points to their being more suited to rats than to rabbits; whilst the colour of the white ferret is a merit which should never be overlooked in connection with rabbiting. In regard to hardiness, breeding propensities, and suchlike matters, there is not much to choose between the two: both are more or less difficult to rear, but better and healthier progeny are obtained from a good strain of polecat ferrets than from the white, though they require more careful handling.

      FIG 2.—THE STOAT.

      Of the other congeners of the ferret, the weasel and the stoat (Fig. 2) resemble one another in colouring and form, but are more rat-like in many respects of form and ways, whilst possessing the same very pronounced predatory instincts. The polecat (Fig. 3) is undoubtedly, as stated elsewhere, but a modified polecat, and it is therefore to some extent a matter for wonder that serious attempts are not oftener made to tame and domesticate this indigenous species, and utilise it as we do the ferret. The mere crossing of the two at times points to the very probable success of such an undertaking. The polecat is decreasing at a rapid rate in the British Isles; and, after all, it is both an interesting and a beautiful creature, worthy of retention amongst the ranks of our furred animals, which retention would be greatly assisted were the suggestion here made carried into effect. The polecat is also known as a fitchet, fitch, fitchet-weasel, and foumart.

      FIG. 3.—THE POLECAT OR FITCHET.

      A curious trait, worthy of note here, is that the ferret never appears to run really foul of any of its congeners. There is always a sort of armed neutrality amongst them; they never seem to fight, but to steer clear of one another, and, when ferreting, one will often have this made apparent. Where stoats and weasels are plentiful, many an ill-success with ferrets may be thus accounted for.

      Many other points in connection with the natural history of the

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