214 MAMMALIA — OPOSSUM. 



The young opossums stick to the paps of the mother till they have acquir- 

 ed strength enough, and a sufficient growth to move easily. 



The latest and fullest account of the manners and habits of the opossum, 

 is given by Dr Godman. "The opossum," says he, "is very remarkable 

 from other peculiarities, besides those Avhich relate to the continuation of its 

 kind. In the first place, it has a very large number of teeth, (no less than 

 fifty,) and its hind feet are actually rendered hands, by short, fleshy, and 

 opposable thumbs ; which, together with the prominences in the palma of 

 these posterior hands, enable the animal to take firm hold of objects which 

 no one would think could be thus grasped. An opossum can cling by these 

 feet hands, to a smooth silk handkerchief, or a silk dress, with great securi- 

 ty, and climb up by the same. In like manner, he can ascend by a skein 

 of silk, or even a few threads. The slightest projection, or doubling, of any 

 material, affords him a certain mean of climbing to any desired height. 

 Another curious and amusing peculiarity, is his prehensile tail; by simply 

 curving this at the extremity, the opossum sustains his weight, and depends 

 from the limb of a tree, or other projecting body, and hanging in full securi- 

 ty, gathers fruit, or seizes any prey within his reach ; to regain his position 

 on the limb, it is only necessary to make a little stronger effort with the tail, 

 and throw his body upward at the same time. 



"In speaking of the more obvious peculiarities of the opossum, we may 

 advert to the thinness and membranous character of the external ears, which 

 may remind us, in some degree, of what has been heretofore said relative to 

 the perfection of the sense of touch possessed by the bat, in consequence 

 of the delicacy of the extended integument forming the ears and wings. 

 The extremity of the nose of our animal is also covered with a soft, moist, 

 and delicate integument, which is, no doubt, very sensitive. On the sides 

 of the nose, or rather on the upper lip, there are numerous long and strong 

 divergent whiskers, or bristles, projecting to the distance of nearly three 

 inches ; over each eye, there are two long, black bristles, rather softer than 

 the others, somewhat crisped, or undulated, and slightly decurved ; while, 

 on the posterior part of the cheek, and about an inch below and in front 

 of the ear, there is a bunch of long, straight bristles, (very similar to those 

 of a hog,) six or eight in number, projecting laterally, so as to form a right 

 angle with the head. When the elongated conical form of the opossum's 

 head is recollected, together with its nocturnal habits, we cannot avoid re- 

 marking, that all these arrangements appear to have immediate reference 

 to the safety of the animal, furnishing the means of directing its course, and 

 warning it of the presence of bodies which otherwise might not be discover- 

 ed until too late. 



"The mouth of the opossum is very wide when open, yet the animal does 

 not drink by lapping, but by suction. The wideness of the mouth is ren- 

 dered very remarkable, when the female is approached, while in company 

 wnn ner young. She then silently drops the lower jaw to the greatest dis- 



