578 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



nine to thirteen in number) are about four weeks old, they occasionally 

 leave the pouch and climb upon the mother's back ; and then when Mrs. 

 Opossum takes her family out for a ride, the scene is one which is not 

 readily duplicated. The little ones are nestled in the dirty yellow fur, and 

 each has its tail elevated in the air and twined around the caudal appen- 

 dage of the mother. In confinement, the opossum has but few interesting 

 features, and displays but little of those intelligent actions which make so 

 many other animals interesting. This is what we should expect from the 

 small size and general character of its brain. The economical value of 

 the opossum is but slight : the negroes are fond of its flesh, but whites do. 









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Fig. 47G. — Virginian opossum (Diddphys viryinianus). 



not find it over-palatable. There is, however, one side to this animal 

 which must not be omitted ; for it has furnished us with the expression 

 ' playing possum.' When this animal finds that all attempts at escape are 

 useless, it feigns death in the most perfect manner. No amount of tor- 

 menting will make it show the least sign of life. It will remain in any 

 position, no matter how uncomfortable ; it will stand any amount of pinch- 

 ing and poking without the slightesl movement of a muscle, awaiting the 

 time when its tormentor will leave it for dead. 



In tropical America there are many other opossums, some with well- 

 developed pouch, others with it in a very rudimentary condition. Some 

 live on insects, some on reptiles, others on the banana and other fruits, 

 while still others turn to the water for their means of subsistence. These 



