Here is something to add to the list of places where ferrets are mentioned.
I was reading "Toulouse-Lautrec" a biography.
When his eccentric father,Count Alphonse married and was on his honeymoon
in Nice, he disappeared when his new wife finally went home alone,she
found he had gone to his hunting lodge because when she arrived home
there was a two word telegram waiting  "SEND FERRETS"
 
On getting ferrets to try new food:   NEVER put it in their food dish.
Drop it "accidently" on the floor, put it in the Dog's bowl, leave it
near a hiding place,or best for us, just put it under the couch!
 A Merry Christmas from Delphi, Dickens,Squeaky,Stink,Sweet Pea,
Poo-Bear,Suzy,Kugel,Big Girl,Pierre,Clarence,Tiny,Trilby,Boy George
  And the Two house servants Jay & Gale Putt
[Posted in FML issue 1044]