I've actually seen a very similar gag done by a small Romanian circus that used to come to my town quite often. The "rows" of fur you see on the outside of the coat are actually folded up pouches that are in the "up" position when you see the fur coat. They are rigged w/ a string that opens them, top-down, when the wearer pulls a release on the inside of the coat -- probably in one of the cuffs. The ferrets are only stowed in the *bottom* row -- so they're hopping out at a distance of no more than perhaps 12''--14" from the coat to the floor -- a very safe & easy distance for them. If you freeze the video at 0:54, you can actually see the pouches open up & flop down. And later, as she walks, you can see the flaps moving w/ her motion, & the fur layer under them is easy to see. This is a pretty basic theatrical costuming trick, which is easy to do, & simply depends on the element of surprise on the audience's part when it happens. Before we get into a debate about how animals are treated in circus settings, let me say that most of these small European circuses are generations-old family businesses, very small operations, & they treat their animals *very* well, as they are part of their families. The Romanian circus that used to come to my town used to invite the audience to hang around after the performance, & you could talk to the performers, pet the animals, ask how some of their tricks were done, etc. The circus from Romania only had trailers for their horses -- the dogs, cats, etc -- all the small animals -- lived in the trailers w/ their families, who were also their trainers. They were obviously well loved & cared for. I believe this particular circus had 3 horses, if I remember correctly, & the small numbers of other animals they used were trained pets. (Notice how the ferrets in this video run *back* to their trainer when they're released from the coat? As independent-thinking as ferrets are, would they run back to an *abuser*? I wouldn't think so. I'd think they'd scatter, were that the case.) So please, I don't want to get into a debate as to how circus animals are treated. I've never been to a large circus, so I don't know anything about that. But my experience w/ this one small Romanian circus pretty much assures me that there's no abuse going on w/ them. And as for the coat trick -- now you know. Even when you know how it's done, it's still cute! Lin [Posted in FML 7015]