This intolerable yell continued, till the same mon. 

 key, who gave the signal for their beginning, lifted 

 up his hand a second time. On this they were 

 all silent again, and so finished the business of the 

 assembly. 



The Opossum, is about the size of a Cat, only 

 jr.ore corpulent, and its legs more robust. It is of a 

 kind of Chcsnut colour, very bright and glossy. Its 

 head is long, and terminates in a snout, somewhat like 

 a Fox's. The tail is long, and much resembles that 

 of a rat, which it twists about with a surprising faci- 

 lity. The legs being short, the body is carried at no 

 great distance from the ground. On the belly of the 

 female, a bag is formed by the skin being doubled. 

 Jt is not very deep, the closest part being toward the 

 upper part of the body, and the open part toward 

 the lower. This is covered with fur, like the rest 

 of the body, so that it is not very obvious to the 

 sight. 



It is a harmless, but likewise a defenceless animal : 

 and the young of no creature, are produced so small 

 and tender, in respect of the parent animal. There- 

 fore that bag is extremely useful to them. They are 

 cherished by the warmth of the parent's body, till ta- 

 \vard noon : then they go abroad till at the first 

 warning by the evening cold, they retire in-to their 

 lodging again* Nor is this all the help which it af- 

 fords. For as the tender young of the opossum are 

 delicate morsels, they would be exposed to the rage 

 of many animals, both by day and night. But the 

 body of the parent is a safe and ready receptacle for 

 them. By (lay she is us watchful over her brood as a 

 hen over her chickens. She is alarmed at the slight- 

 est appearance of danger, and by a noise which they 

 wellmidcrstand, instantly calls them into her bag. 

 At night she constantly takes them in, and consults 

 for herself and them in a very uncommon manner. 

 There are those among the devourers of her young, 

 who will climb a tree after her. Therefore when she 



