RACCOON, OPOSSUM, AND SQUIRKEL FAMILIES. 439 



" Go way now, Jem, none ob you foolin' wid me ; I want 

 my shae ob dat coon." 



"Why," said the other, "dere's all de bones and de pot 

 befo' you, and dere's you mouf all smead wid de fat, and 

 now you say how I eat it !" 



Sam felt his mouth, and finding that it was besmeared, 

 he became calm, and begged pardon for his suspicions; 

 but, placing his hand on his very empty stomach, he said, 

 "I say, Jem, I s'pose I did eat dat coon; but it was the 

 smallest and worsest one I eber seed, for I don't feel him 

 here a bit." Jem was so delighted with his stratagem 

 that he told it to his friends, and the result was that he 

 and Sam soon dissolved partnership in coon-stews. 



The opossum, which is the only member of the marsu- 

 pials indigenous to North America, is found all over the 

 South and South-western States, and extends into Southern 

 California and Arizona. It has a total length of about 

 three feet, and of this the tail takes up fifteen or sixteen 

 inches. Its hair being white, with brownish tips, gives it 

 a pale grayish color. It has rather a rat-like appearance 

 a resemblance which is increased by its long, round, and 

 prehensile cauda. 



The darkies are the great enemies of this little creature, 

 also, and hunt it through woods, brakes, and briers, with 

 mongrel dogs that have been trained to the chase. Per- 

 simmon thickets are favorite places for a meet, as the ani- 

 mal is very fond of this acrid fruit, and frequents its vicin- 

 ity during the night. When the dogs have started the 

 wily 'possum they run it up a tree or sapling, and there 

 they remain and yelp until the colored Nimrods arrive on 

 the scene in a state of breathless excitement. When the 

 'possum's position is known, some one climbs to its retreat 

 and knocks or shakes it down, when the dogs finish it in a 

 few monu-nts. Its flesh is highly prized by the negroes, 

 and they would travel far to obtain it. There is much fun 

 to be gleaned from one of their hunts, as they get wild 

 over the baying of the dogs, and indulge in the most gro- 

 tesque remarks about their capture. 



