I recently was at a used book store looking thru the animal section (I drive these people nuts!). I ran across a little, blue hard cover book - very slim & an awkward size. I almost skipped by it since no title was on the binding, but instead I pulled it out. I almost fell over! It was a book called "Genetics of The Ranch Mink" by Richard M. Shackelford. It was published by Pilsbury Publishers, Inc. in 1950. I guess Dr. Shackelford worked for the University of Wisconsin as an Assistant Professor of Genetics (that happening in 1948 - 2 years prior to publication - I assume he must have eventually advanced to Professor) and as an agent for the Bureau of Animal Industry, USDA. He has familiarized himself with research (hands on) in Sweden, Denmark & Norway - in all fur bearing critters. I haven't read the whole book, since I just got it yesterday. It touches base on recessive, dominant, mutations, expectations, colors, outbreeding, inbreeding (haven't read this yet, but am assuming they mean in a closed colony & as opposed to studding out or bring in more stock, since they talk about outbreeding - I hope!). So now my big question - How closely are ferret genetics to the ranch mink genetics? I have known many breeders that have mink books as references. Bob C - maybe a question for you to answer? Anybody else? Can anybody tell me if this is a good book, about the author, about the publication (I will be trying to get a hold of Pilsbury - if they are still around - to find out production numbers & editions), and anything else. Also, anybody know when the new edition of Fox's book comes out? The last edition was 1988. Amy Flemming Flemming Farms Please e-mail me at [log in to unmask] despite the origins of this post http://www.geocities.com/heartland/ranch/9521 Come see updates & photos of kits on the "Birth Announcement" page and photos of the kits we got from Sam Young in New Zealand on the "About Flemming Farms Ferrets" page **Please stop by & vote for Seven Year Itch in Photo Contest on the "Very Important Message" page** [Posted in FML issue 2325]