148 THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 



come out again — has the least effect on the Myrmecobius, which is 

 possessed either of sufficieDt smoke-resistiog powers to endure the sti- 

 fling vapor with impunity, or of sufficient courage to yiehl its life in 

 the recesses of its haven rather than deliver itself into the hands of 

 its enemies. * • 



The food of the Myrmecobius is supposed to consist chiefly of ants 

 and similar diet, as it is generally found inhabiting localities where ants 

 most abound. For this kind of food it is well fitted by its long tongue, 

 which is nearly as thick as a common black-lead pencil, and is capable 

 of protrusion to some distance. In confinement a specimen of the 

 Myrmecobius Avas Accustomed to feed on bran, among other sub- 

 stances. It is known that in the wild state it will eat hay, as well 

 as the "manna" that exudes from the branches of the Eucalypti. 



It is a very gentle animal in its disposition, as, when captured, it does 

 not bite or scratch, but only vents its displeasure in a series of little 

 grunts when it finds that it is unable to make its escape. The number 

 of its young is rather various, but averages from five to eight. The 

 usual habitation of the Myrmecobius is placed in the decayed trunk 

 of a fallen tree, or, in defiiult of such lodging, is made in a hollow 

 in the ground. It is a native of the borders of the Swan River. 



There are very few of the marsupi- 

 ated animals which are more remark- 

 able for their form, their habits, or 

 their character than the Opossums of 

 America. They are nearly all admi- 

 rable climbers, and are assisted in their 

 -^ scansorial efforts by their long prehen- 

 j/x>^.^^^~i^~-> sile tails, which are covered with scales, 



^^■"^ -s , ^z through the interstices of which a few 



The Opossum (DideJphys Vir- short black hairs protrude. The hinder 

 giniana). £^^^ ^^^ ^1^^ ^^.^^ adapted for climbing, 



as the thumb is opposable to the other toes, so that the animal is able to 

 grasp the branch of a tree with considerable force, and to suspend its 

 whole body together with the additional weight of its prey or its young. 

 The Virginian or Common Opossum is, as its name implies, a native 

 of Virginia as well as of many other portions of the United States of 

 America. In size it equals a tolerably large cat, being rather more 

 than three feet in total length, the head and body measuring twenty- 

 two inches, and the tail fifteen. The color of this animal is a grayish 

 white, slightly tinged with yellow, and diversified by occasional long 

 hairs that are white toward their base, but of a brownish hue toward 

 their points. These brown-tipped hairs are extremely prevalent upon 

 the limbs, which are almost wholly of the brown hue, which also sur- 

 rounds the eye to some extent. The under fur is comparatively soft and 



