258 THE HIVE OF THE EEE-HUNTER. 



his opportunity, and unexpectedly recovering his breath, 

 will make his escape. 



This trick of the little animal has given rise to a 

 proverb of much meaning among those acquainted with 

 his habits, entitled, "playing 'possum,"' and probably it 

 is as good an illustration of certain deceptive actions of 

 life as can be well imagined. 



Take an opossum in good health, corner him up un- 

 til escape is impossible, then give him a gentle tap on 

 the body that would hardly crush a mosquito, and he 

 will straighten out, and be, according to all indications, 

 perfectly dead. In this situation you may thump liim, 

 cut his flesh, and half skin him : not a muscle will 

 move ; his eyes are glazed and covered with dust, for he 

 has no eyelids to close over them. You may even worry 

 him with a dog, and satisfy yourself that he is really 

 defunct ; then leave him quiet a moment, and he will 

 draw a thin film from his eyes, and, if not interfered 

 with, be among the missing. 



An Irishman, meeting with one of these little ani- 

 mals in a public road, was thrown into admiration at its ' 

 appearance, and on being asked why he did not bring 

 the " thing " home with him, said he : 



" On sight, I popped him with my shillelah ; he died 

 off immadiatel}^ and I thrust the spalpeen into my coat 

 pocket 5 ' There's a dinner, ony how,' I said to myself; 

 and scarcely liad I made the observation, than he com- 

 menced devouring me, biting through my breeches, the 



