The Virginia Opossum 



Didtlpliis I'injiuiana I'irc/tniana 



Although the opossum is one of the commonest 

 and best known of our native animals, it is surprising 

 how few people have had the opportunity to observe 

 it in its native haunts. The writer, while driving 

 through Schenley Park in the city of Pittsburgh, on a 

 summer's night, came suddenly upon an opossum that 

 was leisurely crossing the road. The creature, dazed 

 by the lights of the car, stopped and remained motion- 

 less in its path. Dismounting, the w^riter was able to 

 approach to within a few feet of the animal before it 

 slowly ambled ofif the highway and disappeared in the 

 surrounding shrubbery. When one can see the opos- 

 sum within the heart of a large industrial city, it is 

 pretty good evidence that it is far from being exter- 

 minated. 



The Virginia opossum usually lives near streams 

 and lakes in well wooded sections. It is slow moving 

 and sluggish, and appears to be quite stupid. It is noc- 

 turnal in its habits and is a very shy animal. Its inter- 

 esting habit of "having fits" or feigning death when 

 attacked is w^ell known and has given rise to the saying 

 "playing 'possum." 



The opossum is a Marsupial animal, like the 

 kangaroo of Austrialia. Its method of producing young 

 differs materially from the rest of the mammals. The 

 young, numbering from 5 to 14, are born in a very 

 much undeveloped state, having not even a well defined 

 form. They are not attached to the parent by an um- 

 bilical cord and placenta as are most mammals, and 

 upon birth they are placed within the mother's pouch 

 which is located on the belly. Within the pouch are 



-*>C 63 >«*■- 



