HUNTING THE OPOSSUM. 381 



peculiarities which deserve to be mentioned. It has a very large 

 number of teeth, its hind feet are actually rendered hands by short, 

 flesh*y, and opposabie thumbs, enabling the animal to grasp objects 

 firmly with these feet ; it has a prehensile tail by curving which 

 at the extremity, the animal can depend from the limb of a tree, 

 or c iher projection, and hanging in security, gather fruit, or seize 

 r:ny prey within his reach. The opossum has a very acute sense 

 of touch, which contributes to its safety during the nocturnal ramble 

 in which he indulges. The general color of the animal Js a 

 whitish gray. On the face the wool is short and of a smoky 

 white color ; that on the belly is of the same character. The tail 

 is covered with small hexagonal scales, interspersed with short, 

 coarse hairs. 



The opossum is a nocturnal animal, depending more upon its 

 cunning than its strength for its safety. Its motions are slow, and 

 clumsy in appearance. Birds, small quadrupeds, eggs, insects, 

 and the denizens of the poultry-yard form its principal food. Its 

 flesh is said to resemble roast pig in flavor. 



The hunting of the opossum is a favorite sport with the country 

 people, who frequently go out with their dogs at night, after the 

 autumnal frosts have begun and the persimmon fruit is in its most 

 delicious state. The opossum as soon as he discovers the ap- 

 proach of his enemies, lies perfectly close to the branch, or places 

 himself snugly in the angle where two limbs separate from each 

 other. The dogs, however, soon announce the fact of his presence 

 by their baying, and the hunter ascending the tree discovers the 

 branch upon which the animal is seated, and begins to shake it 

 with great violence to alarm and cause him to relax his hold. 

 This is soon effected, and the opossum attempting to escape to 

 another limb is pursued immediately, and the shaking is renewed 

 with greater violence, until at length the terrified quadruped 

 allows himself to drop to the ground, where hunters or dogs are 

 prepared to despatch him. 



Should the hunter, as frequently happens, be unaccompanied 

 by dogs when the opossum falls to the ground, it does not im- 

 mediately make its escape, but steals slowly and quietly to a little 



