Thanks for all the help!  Know others will want to see the historical
ferret pictures found so here's where to go:
 
http://home.worldonline.nl/~wfu/drawings.html
 
http://members.aol.com/bookspine/180.htm
 
http://pix.corbis.com/pix.asp?id=BE001077&key=Ermine
 
at the last also check out Hulton-Duetsch Collection/Corbis HU 038907 "Eton
Boy Feeds His Pet Ferret" which looks to date from early this century or
late last though I am not sure.
[Posted in FML issue 2419]