VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 475 



ed sufficient growth and strength, they emerge, 

 after which they occasionally take refuge in the 

 same receptacle on the appearance of any dan- 

 ger, and are earned about by the parent. This 

 is the practice with most of the Opossum tribe ; 

 but there are two species which have no ventral 

 pouch for the reception of their young, but a kind 

 of depression or furrow in its stead. 



When imported into Europe (at least into our 

 own island), the Opossums have never been 

 known to breed; the late Mr. John Hunter having 

 frequently procured several for this purpose, but 

 could by no means succeed in his endeavours to 

 ascertain the particulars of their history in this 

 respect. The Kanguroo, however, which is an 

 example 0f a similar contrivance of Nature, has 

 afforded opportunities of illustrating the subject 

 more satisfactorily. 



The Virginian Opossum, like all the other Ame- 

 rican species, is a carnivorous animal, and preys 

 on poultry, small birds, &c. in the manner of the 

 European Polecat: it is also frugivorous, eating- 

 several kinds of roots, fruits, &c. It is of a gen- 

 tle disposition, and may easily be tamed; but, like 

 some other species, it has a disagreeable smell : 

 its voice is a sort of grunting squeak : its pace in 

 running is not swift, but it is very expert in 

 climbing trees, and readily passes, by means of 

 its clinging tail, from bough to bough, in the 

 manner of a Monkey. The female produces 

 four or five at a birth, and has the power of 



