HMUTS Of TlIK <>/>OSSUX. 



travel through crooked l>\.- a\s, instead of following the open roa<l. an<l s.. I>1 under them- 

 selves stupidly iiiul sinuously inti. ii.-edless jH-ril. from which their craftiness sometimes extri- 

 cates them, it is true, l>ut in it \\ithout niin-h anxiety and apprehension. 



When : 1 1. 1 in.-. I it i- .-.i-ih 1. 1 in. -I. :tii.| f:. IN in'., ill.- lial'it of domestication with fFeal MM, 

 It is, however, in it \.-r\ agreeable as a domestic romjianion, as it is gifted with a powerful 

 :ui<I \er\ mi]. lea-out odor, which emanates from its person with great force, whenever the ani- 

 mal is irritated or excited. 



'I'll.- nest of th- Opossum is always in:i.|.- in some protected -ii milieu, such as tin- hollow 

 of a fallen r a -tan. ling tree, or under tin- -h.-li.-r of some old projecting roots. In funning an 

 appropriate receptacle for her \outig. the (>i>ossuni is assist"! by her fore-feet, which an- well 

 adapted for dicing. The nest itself is composed of long moss and various dried leaves. 

 Sometime* the creature has been known to usurp the domicile of some other animal, not 

 without suspicion of having previously devoured the rightful owner. On one occasion a hunter 

 sent a rifle-ball tlmm-h a -.parrel's nest, which was placed at some forty feet from the 

 ground, and was surprised to see an Opossum fall dead on the ground. This creature has 

 also U-.-n KM. >un |Q p., -- .-- it-.-lf ,,f ill.- \\arm n.-t ..f il,.- Kl..ii.|:i rat. 



When the young of the Opossum are born, they are transferred by the mother to her 

 cradle-jHHich, where they remain for some weeks. From repeated experiments that have been 

 made on this animal, it is found that the transfer is made on the fifteenth day after the youiu; 

 have leen called into existence, and that at that ]>eriod they only weigh four grains, their total 

 length lieing under an inch, tin- tail included. Their numl>er is from thirteen to fifteen. 

 After they are placed in the pouch their growth is wonderfully rapid, for in seven days they 

 have gained so much substance as to weigh thirty grains ; and even at this early period of their 

 .\i-i.-ii. > tl'.-ir t.iil- .'\iiil.it i!i.- prehensile caijwcity, :in.I are "fi-n f.-imd .-..il.-.l run.l each 

 other's bodies. In four weeks the little Opossums have gained sufficient Htrength to put 

 their heads out of the pouch, and at the end of the fifth week they are able to leave it 

 entirely for a short time. 



Very great trouble was required in order to ascertain these particulars, as it was found 

 that the Opossum was in the habit of hiding herself in her den until she had placed her young 

 in the pouch, so that it was needful to search the cavity for these concealed females, and to 

 watch their proceedings by night and day, without intermission. 



There are one or two circumstances in connection with this subject that are well worthy 

 of attention. 



The young Opossums are not, as has been often asserted, mere helpless lumps of animated 

 substances, without sense or power of determinate action, but are wonderfully active in pro- 

 portion to their minute size and their undeveloped state. If placed upon a table, 

 they can crawl about its surface, and are sufficiently hardy to retain life for several 

 hours after th.-ir removal from the warm cradle in which their tender bodies were shielded 

 from harm, and the maternal fount which poured a constant stream of nourishment into th.-ir 

 tiny systems. 



Another singular circumstance is. that when they are first placed in the pouch, they are 

 Mind and deaf, the eyes and ears being closed, and not opened until many days have elapsed. 

 With partial blindness at the time of birth we are all familiar in the persons of kittens, 

 puppies, and other little animals, but that the tender young of the Opossum should be deaf 

 as well as blind, is truly singular. It appears that in the case of the kitten or puppy, the 

 presence of light and the action of the atmosphere are needed in order to withdraw the 

 obstacles that oUtrii.-! ih.- sens,- ,,f vision. In th-- young Opossum. hoWWTW, it MflOM M,:,i 

 the action of the atmosphere is needed in order to render the ears sensitive to the sounds that 

 are transmitted through its mediumship, but that in most cases the little creature requires the 

 f Iteht until the time comes for it to open its eyes as well as its ears. 



What length of time elapses between the period of transmission into the j>ouch and the 



il owning of eyes and ears is not I believe, as yet clearly ascertained, and would furnish 



an interesting subject for investigation. I would also suggest that the blood of the young 



animal be carefully examined in three of its stages, viz., just before it is born, immediately 



