The bee., 1883-12-08
-HE DEADLY ZOE OF RATS
a Fierce Little Army that the Owner
would mot Sell for $4,000,

would mot Sell for $40, 1000.
CT am fond of rats, mice, moles,
reaches, flies, heas, moths, ants, scor-
pions, and like veEnin, because have
studied their habits and ways nearly all
my life," said little man in spectacles
to New York Sun reporter. He sat at
bis desk in small shop in a busy street
down town, writing busily. At his side
was pen about five feet long, two feet
wide, and three feet deep. In it were
twenty or thirty ferrets coiled together in
an undulating mass of fur, with here and
there sharp muzzle and pair of bright
little eyes rising above the mass and
looking intently at the little man who
wrote at the desk.
There was time, many years ago, 7"
continued the little man, wheeling around
in his chair, "when vermin were more
or less obnoxious to me, but / began to
study their habits and natures, and in a
short time / became SO much interested
in them that all dislike disappeared.
went into the business of DESTROYING
them about 1850, and since that l have
had my hands full. make contracts to
rid houses, hotels, and institutions OF
rats for SO much year. My charges
vary considerably. For good-sized city
residence remove all rats and keep them
away for a year for $50"
" How do you do it2"
'fWith these little beauties" said the
little man, turning afectionately toward
the pen. As he did so the ferrets wrig-
gled out of the cosy tangle in which they
had lain and bounded upward with their
fore paws in the air and their heads
thrown back, exhibiting JOY at every
jump They were pretty little creatures,
about as large in girth as an average
rat, but almost twice the length. Their
heads were rst-shaped, their four claws
very sharp, and their activity and quick
ness amazing.
Il have thousand of them, " said the
rat-catcher, ''and wouldn't sell the lot
for $40, 600 I have trained them all SO
that they obey me unhesitatingly. When
/ wish to clear a house of rats take some
of my ferTets-ive or six or ten-and slip
them into the rat holes. / leave them
there all night, and whistle for them on
the following day. They come right to
me, and take them home. No rat can
escape ferret. The rats run from fer
rets like mad, but it is useless. Where
ever rat goes a ferret can go. The
ferret catches rat and then eats him
flesh, bones, hair, tail, everything.
Ferrets cannot live without rats for any
length of time l feed mine hair, feath-
era, and fur regularly twice week."
Where do you get your ferrets2"
"I breed them. Different breeds can
be crossed as easily as with dogs"
He took bit Of raw meat in a big pail
of iron nippers, and held it at a height OF
about four feet over the den of ferrets.
Every one Of the little creatures bounded
fercely for the meat. He raised it as
they jumped, and only half q dozen oi
the best jumpers succeeded in fastening
their jaws omit. To show how tenaciously
the ferrets held their grip, the rat catcher
swung the meat around his head and
slammed the ferTets against the sides Of
the pen, but they could not be shaken
from their hold. Then he selected one,
seized it by the back of the neck, and
tore it loose from the meat.
This one" he said, holding it aloft,
:" is new breed. 1t Is a cross between
the American mink and the Fitch ferret,
and can stand the climate better than the
uncrossed breed. Ferrets require consid.
cradle care, but I avoid any contagious
diseases by very simple plan"
/" What is it2"
AS soon as a ferret gets the least bit
off / shoot it and throw it away. 1t is a
wise plan, for the rest are never troubled"