The FURO book of ferrets mentions Berbers in relationship to ferrets but no more than that. If you're still listening Bob, how do ferrets and the European ferret relate to the various current African polecats like the striped and spotted? There is a lot of evidence that the current Sable Standard color and pattern came from the European Polecat but there are some writings discussing other patterns and colors that would seem to come from the Steppe polecat. No patterns that resemble the Fancy patterned Africans. I'm finding this very interesting, hope others are as well. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets [Posted in FML issue 1475]