THE OPOSSUM. 69 



logs and burrows in the ground. It multi- 

 plies very rapidly, having its young once a 

 year, generally in the month of May. Its 

 means of subsistence are wild grapes, berries, 

 persimmons, fowls of all kinds, and dead 

 horses and cows, when it can find them. 



The opossum is a great chicken-roost rob- 

 ber, and, being a very clumsy animal, depends 

 on slipping on to the roosts and getting hold 

 of the fowls before they are aware of its pres- 

 ence. 



The bait for the opossum is made by ad- 

 ding to two ounces of grapes or persimmons 

 twenty drops oil of cinnamon and ten drops 

 oil of anise. 



Or, take the flesh of birds or fowls and use 

 two or three drops oil of anise or cinnamon 

 near the bait. This will attract the opossum 

 t for a long way, and on coming near he will 

 see or smell the bait and attempt to get it. 

 The opossum must be trapped on dry land. 



In hunting this animal, go to where there 



