OPOSSUMS. 435 



THE OPOSSUM. 



There are numerous species of opossum, most of them mar- 

 supial, in the Brazils, where they take the place of the shrews 

 of Europe. They are very destructive to poultry. One of 

 the species is aquatic, and has webbed feet. The terrestrial 

 species are nocturnal. They sleep during the day in the 

 hollows of trees, and come forth at night to prey on birds in 

 their roos ting-places. Some live entirely on trees. 



THE CRAB-EATING OPOSSUM. 



The crab-eating opossum is a curious creature, about ten 

 inches in length ; with a prehensile tail, fifteen inches long, in 

 addition. It has a somewhat pointed nose, and a darkish fur. 

 When born, the young are transferred by the mother to her 

 cradle pouch, where they live for some weeks before they are 

 sufiiciently developed to venture abroad. 



The creature is formed especially for living among the trees, 

 about which it moves with the activity of a monkey. It 

 advances carefully, always entwining its tail round one branch 

 before venturing on to another. 



The crabs and other crustaceans on which it lives — from 

 which circumstance it obtains its name — are found on low 

 marshy soils, in the neighbourhood of which these species 

 exist. 



merian's opossum. 



A still more curious creature is Merian's opossum (Philan- 

 der dorsigerus). It has no true pouch, and the mother, there- 

 fore, while her young are in their infancy, carries them on her 

 back. From this circumstance the name of dovs'igcrus, or 

 back-bearing, has been given to it. They cling to her fur 



