FERRET (Fr. furct, It. furctto, from ML. fu ret us, diminutive f aro, ferret, from Lat. fur, thief ; apparently connected by popular etymology with Lat. fern, wild beast). (1) An animal of the weasel family (Mustelidce), so nearly allied to the polecat (Putorius fcetidus) that many re gard it as a mere domesticated albinotic variety. others regard it as a distinct species. which they call I'utorius furo. It is of rather smaller size, the head and body being about 14 inches long, the tail inches, the muzzle somewhat longer and more pointed, the head rather narrower; the color is very different, being yellowish, with more or less of white in some parts, due to two kinds of hair, the longer partly white, the short er yellow. The eyes are pink. It is, however, much more susceptible to cold than the polecat, and requires careful protection from it in cli mates where the polecat is a hardy native. It
was imported into Europe from Africa. and was used in Rome as a mouser. Attention to warmth and cleanliness is essential to the health' of fer rets. They are capable only of partial domesti cation, acquiring a kind of familiarity with man, and submitting with perfect quietness to his handling, but apparently never forming any very decided attachment; and they never cease to be dangerous if not carefully watched, especially where infants are within their reach. If allowed any measure of freedom they are ready to attack poultry, and kill far more than they can devour, merely sucking the blood. They generally breed twice a year. each brood consisting of six or nine. The female sometimes devours her young, in which case another brood is speedily produced. Consult Everitt, Ferrets: Their .1lanagemcnt (London, 1897). See Plate of FUR-BEARING