112 OPOSSUM. 



structs a simple nest for the reception of her off- 

 spring; this she often places in a thistle, or hangs it 

 between tall ears of corn ; the Armadillo excavates 

 a subterraneous habitation, where she brings up her 

 family. But the pouched animals are rarely sepa- 

 rated from their young ; they are provided with a 

 skin on the under surface of their bodies, resembling 

 that which is attached to the pelican, a kind of loose 

 waistcoat, with an opening. In this, as a place of 

 retreat and concealment, the young ones take refuge, 

 and are safe. Presuming that Opossums inhabit an 

 open or woody country, the reason for this extraordi- 

 nary appendage may be readily explained : without it 

 the young would have no chance of escaping when 

 pursued by the hunter; but with it they are secure, 

 and the bounding leaps which carry the mother 

 beyond the reach of danger, carry them also. It 

 is their cradle, their asylum, and the machine for 

 their conveyance ; nor is it a mere doubling of the 

 skin, but it is a new organ, furnished with bones 

 and muscles of its own ; the one to support and 

 give a fixture to the muscles, the other to shut or 

 close the opening of the cradle, according to the 

 inclination of the animal, or the wishes of her 

 young. Thus, at one time, an Opossum may be 

 seen bounding over the dewy herbage alone, and 

 apparently thinking only of enjoyment, but in one 

 moment she is encompassed with her family; the 

 looker-on may wonder whence they came, but sud- 

 denly some sound is heard, as if 'danger was at 

 hand, the little ones disappear, and she is gone. 



Another peculiarity is obvious in the American 

 Opossum; this is, the having a long muscular 



