378 



The Living Animals of the World 



Photo by W. 



YAPOCK, OB WATER-OPOSSUM. 

 In habits, although not in size and colour, this marsupial may be compared to a wolf. 



which it still frequently succeeds 

 in hoodwinking the unwary, and 

 so saves its skin. Discovered 

 thieving, and receiving perhaps 

 a haphazard but by no means 

 disabling blow, it at once 

 collapses, and with film-covered 

 eyes and protruding tongue is to- 

 all intents and purposes dead. 

 It may be kicked round the 

 premises, and finally probably 

 taken up by the tail and flung 

 ignominiously outside, without 

 betraying vitality by even so- 

 much as a wink. But no sooner 

 is the coast thoroughly clear of 

 the avenger than the stiffened 

 limbs relax, the eyes reopen, and 

 Brer 'Possum trots off, as fresh 

 as ever. Maybe it is the ripen- 

 ing maize or the persimmon-patch 

 that next engages his attention, and in either case he walks in and feeds right royally,, 

 laying up a goodly store of fat against the approaching winter months of scarcity. 



Away from human habitations the opossum is an essentially arboreal animal, living and 

 breeding for the most part, like his Australian cousins, in hollow trees, and making excursions 

 therefrom in all directions in quest of food. His much-mixed natural diet may consist of 

 tender shoots and leaves, and the wild grapes and the many other berries and fruits the forest 

 produces. He craves, however, after a due admixture of animal pabulum, and birds and their 

 eggs, insects, lizards, and the smaller mammals furnish their quota to his menu. Crustacea, 

 such as crabs and the crayfish which abound in the American streams and marshes, have an. 

 irresistible attraction for him ; and it is on this account that, in the southern area of his 

 distribution, where these Crustacea are so plentiful as to constitute his main diet, and his face- 

 is browned by the more glowing sun, he is known by the title of the Crab-eater. 



Although fattening up against the winter, he, even in his most northern limits, does not 

 hibernate, but may even be seen leisurely picking his way over the snow, probably tracking 

 some unfortunate squirrel to its lair, which in due time is located, dragged out, and 

 devoured. While assimilating his meal of flesh or fruit, Brer 'Possum likes to have all four 

 hands at liberty, his hind feet being also graspers ; and so he twists his tail round a convenient 

 branch, and, hanging perdu, leisurely enjoys his feast. The opossum, like the rat to which 

 it has in aspect and many of its habits been likened is a most prolific breeder, as many as 

 from six to sixteen young being comprised in the litter. When born, they are immediately 

 transferred to the somewhat capacious pouch, and remain there without venturing outside until 

 they are about the size of an ordinary mouse. 



A third and very distinct type of American opossums is the one represented on- 

 page 380, which, from its mouse-like size and aspect, is commonly known as the MuiiiNE 

 OPOSSUM. The most distinct feature of this little animal is that, though a genuine marsupial, 

 it has no pouch, but carries its young on its back, the little creatures twining their tails 

 round that of their mother, and so securing a stable anchorage. Although thus loaded up and 

 transformed for the time being into a sort of combination perambulator and feeding-flask, the 

 happy but anxious parent pursues the even tenor of her way among the tree-branches and 

 thicket-growths with almost unabated agility. This species, in common with MERIAM'S OPOSSUM 

 and the WOOLLY OPOSSUM and several others which carry their young, to as many as a dozen 



