THE OPOSSUM. 495 
thus suspended. It also feeds on various roots, which it digs out of the ground with 
ease. 
Its gait is usually slow and awkward, but when pursued it runs with considerable 
speed, though in a sufficiently clumsy fashion, caused by its habit of using the limbs of 
the right and left side simultaneously in a kind of amble. As, moreover, the creature is 
plantigrade in its walk, it may be imagined to be anything but elegant in its mode of 
progress upon the ground. Although it is such an adept at “’possuming,” or feigning 
death, it does not put this ruse in practice until it has used every endeavour to elude its 
pursuers, and finds that it has no possibility of escape. It runs sulkily and sneakingly 
forward, looking on every side for some convenient shelter, and seizing the first opportunity 
of slipping under cover. 
If chased by a dog, it takes at once to a tree, and unless the dog be accompanied by 
its master, only climbs to a convenient resting-place, above the limit of the dog’s leaping 
powers, and there sits quietly, permitting the dog to bark itself hoarse, without troubling 
itself any further about so insignificant an enemy. If, however, as is generally the case, 
the dog be accompanied by human hunters, the unfortunate Opossum has but little chance 
of safety. For as soon as the creature is “treed,” the quick, sharp bark of the dog conveys 
to its master the welcome tidings, and he immediately runs towards the point from whence 
proceeds the well-known voice of his dog. 
Having reached the position of the enemy, he ascends the tree in chase of the Opossum, 
which begins to climb towards the highest branches, followed by its pursuing foe. At last 
it gains the very extremity of some branch, and holds on with tail and claws, while the 
man endeavours to dislodge it by shaking violently the bough to which it clings. For a 
time it retains its hold, but is soon wearied by the constant exertion, and falls heavily to 
the ground, where it is seized and despatched by the expectant dogs. 
The negroes are especially fond of this sport, and look eagerly forward to the close of 
day when they have been promised a “’possum-hunt,” as a reward for good conduct. Not 
only do they very thoroughly enjoy the moonlight sport, with its exciting concomitants, 
but promise themselves a further gratification, after their return home, in eating the 
Opossums which have fallen victims to their skill. The flesh of the Opossum is white 
when cooked, and is considered to be remarkably good, especially when the animal is 
killed in autumn, for at that time of year it is extremely fat. 
Although, from the great accession of fat in the autumn months, it might be thought 
a hybernating animal, it is found roaming the woods in search of food even in the coldest 
night of winter. Still the large amount of fat with which the body is loaded is calculated 
to give the animal greater powers of resisting hunger and the severity of the weather 
than would otherwise have been the case, and enables it to thrive upon the comparatively 
small amount of food which it can obtain during the season of intense cold. 
It is not a gregarious animal, and even the members of the same family spread 
themselves widely apart when they are in the open air. 
The Opossum, although so cunning in many respects, is singularly simple in others. 
There is hardly any ‘animal which is so easily captured, for it will walk into the rudest of 
traps, and permit itself to be ensnared by a device at which an English rat would look with 
contempt. Strange mixture of craft and dulness; and yet one which is commonly found 
in all creatures, whether men or animals, that only possess cunning, and no observance at 
all. For there are none so prone to entangle themselves in difficulties as the over-artful. 
They must needs travel through crooked byeways, instead of following the open road, 
and so blunder themselves stupidly and sinuously into needless peril, from which their 
craftiness sometimes extricates them, it is true, but not without much anxiety and 
apprehension. 
When captured it is easily tamed, and falls into the habit of domest’cation with great 
ease. It is, however, not very agreeable as a domestic companion, as it is gifted with a 
powerful and very unpleasant odour, which emanates from its person with great force, 
whenever the animal is irritated or excited. 
The nest of the Opossum is always made in some protected situation, such as the 
hollow of a fallen or a standing tree, or under the shelter of some old projecting roots. 
