The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-11-06
HOW TO TREAT FERReTS.
apo to Them as You Would BE Done by
Bold, Useful Little Hunters.

ADO to Them as You Would BE Done by
Bold, Useful Little Hunters.
One of the oldest Dutch engravings,
copies of which are highly priced by
collectors, is "The Rat-catcher." 1t
represents an old man walking through
a quaint Flemish street carrying cage
of ferrets. Though ferrets have been
known in Europe for hundreds of
years as expert rat-catchers, and are
also used in rabblt-hunting, it is only
within the past few years that they
have been introduced into this country,
and their first cousins, the weasels, the
martens, and the skunks, have all been
looked upon with disfavor by farmers,
and active efforts are made for their
determination. Lately, however, con-
siderable interest has been aroused in
the keeping and breeding of these
graceful little animals, and it may
safely be said that American boys have,
found n new pet-a pet which gives
but little trouble, and will more than
pay for itself by its services in Kidding
the house and barns from rats,
1t is true that the ferret is not an
affectionate animal and will never dis
play the intelligence and faithfulness
of a dog; but it is a pretty little
creature, graceful in every motion and
playful after its own peculiar fashion.
TO see a family Of them tumbling over
each other in their fun, twining their
long slender bodies in and out, one
would almost take them for furred
snakes, and indeed it is this snake-like
shape and tlexibility which makes them
valuable as rat-catchers. They can 90
anywhere it is possible for a rat to go
and will follow their game up and
down, between the walls and under
the floors, with the pertinacity of a
bloodhound.
The ferret proper, or M,Istcia fnrO,
as the naturalists call it, is pretty
white creature with shining pink eyes.
1t is very delicate, being extremely
sensitive to cold and subject to various
diseases. 1t is largely used in England,
but In America the cross reeds-those
related to the mink, marten or pole
cat--are preferred as being more hardy
and better hunters The color of
American ferrGts therefore varies from
| yellow to brown, as the ferret, mink
or marten blood predominates. 1t is a
very neat little animal and absolute
cleanliness in its pen is necessary for
its health. A dry goods box about
three feet square and three feet high,
the bottom filled with dry sand or saw
dust, which must be changed once a
day, is q good pen for pair of ferrets
if you are going to keep them indoors.
For an outdoor pen compact, solid
ly-built box, with a slantlng roof,
about six feet long, four feet wide and
four feet high, is recommended by the
most successful breeder of ferrets in
this country. 1t has wire front, and
two divisions, with a sliding door be-
tween. The smaller division is two,
the larger four feet long. The smaller
part is kept full of hay in winter, in
summer half full, and has door over
the wire front. This is the ferrets'
sleeping apartment, in which they can
keep warm in the coolest weather In
the larger part, which serves for
ward, the ferrets can come out and
,ake their exercise and feed. At the
back of the pen are two large doors,
so that you can get at the ferrets a
any time. The hay should be changed
every month or two, except during the
breeding season, when the ferrets
should he left alone. Any attempt t
handle the little ones, or even watcl
Them, should be avoided, as it is haC
FOR both the young and the mother.
Like every animal, IerretS requir
patience. kindness and good judgmen
their treatment. They are not long
ffering like dogs or cats, and tn
Dung owner of ferrets who attempts