NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF LAKE MAXINKUCKEE 3 



and are now tolerably common throughout the northern part of 

 the state. About 1887 an old trapper near Fort Wayne caught one 

 and reported that it was the first he had seen for 20 years. No 

 more were seen in that region until about 1900, when they began 

 to be captured occasionally. In October, 1903, three were captured 

 in Walley's woods southwest of Lake Maxinkuckee and three 

 others were trapped at Norris Inlet. It was not seen by us at the 

 lake until the summer of 1906, when on August 5, an adult example 

 was found dead on the lake shore just north of the Outlet. On 

 October 30, 1906, another was seen in the possession of a boy at 

 Culver, who reported the capture of 3 on the previous night. One 

 is reported to have stayed under the Barr Cottage on Long Point 

 during the winter of 1906-7. About September 3, 1907, boys 

 living in Culver got an old Opossum with a number of young in 

 her pouch. They did not count the young, but let her go. 



The northward movement of the Opossum seems to have been 

 general over the state. They are occasionally taken in Marshall 

 and adjoining counties. They are frequently seen at Fort Wayne, 

 Indiana, a few being captured every winter. Mr. J. J. Hildebrandt, 

 of Logansport, reported that some one had brought him about 

 October i, 1904, an old Opossum and 12 young, the latter 

 about two- thirds as large as rats. The first night she killed 9 of 

 them. He kept the other three and the mother for about 3 weeks, 

 when he took them to the woods and turned them loose. 



Devouring its young in captivity seems to be a common habit 

 of the Opossum, and almost everyone who has tried to keep them 

 together has had the young destroyed by the mother. 



The Opossum is usually caught in this region for its fur. The 

 prices now obtained by the trappers are 15 to 25 cents. The pelts 

 are becoming more valuable every year, the prices brought in 

 the London market hi 1910 for prime skins ranging from 45 cents 

 to $i. 



The food of the Opossum is chiefly insects, though they are also 

 fond of pawpaws. They also feed to some extent upon the mussels 

 which they find in the lake. They are an innocent, harmless animal 

 and should be protected. 



