146 THE OPOSSUM. 



in consequence of the delicacy of the extended integument 

 forming the ears and wings. The extremity of the nose 

 of our animal is also covered by a soft, moist, and delicate 

 integument, which is, no doubt, very sensitive. On the 

 sides of the nose, or rather on the upper lip, there are nu- 

 merous long and strong divergent whiskers, or bristles, pro- 

 jecting to the distance of nearly three inches ; over each 

 eye there are two long black bristles, rather softer than the 

 others, somewhat crisped, or undulated, and slightly de- 

 curved ; while, on the posterior part of the cheek, and 

 about an inch below and in front of the ear, there is a 

 bunch of long, straight bristles (very similar to those of a 

 hog), six or eight in number, projecting laterally, so as to 

 form a right angle with the head. When the elongated 

 conical form of the Opossum's head is recollected, toge- 

 ther with its nocturnal habits, we cannot avoid remarking, 

 that all these arrangements appear to have immediate re- 

 ference to the safety of the animal, furnishing the means 

 of directing its course, and warning it of the presence of 

 bodies which otherwise might not be discovered until too 

 late. 



" The mouth of the Opossum is very wide when open ; 

 yet the animal does not drink by lapping, but by suction. 

 The wideness of the mouth is rendered very remarkable 

 when the female is approached, while in company with 

 her young. She then silently drops the lower jaw to the 

 greatest distance it is capable of moving, retracts the an- 

 gles of the lips, and shows the whole of her teeth, which 

 thus present a formidable array. She then utters a mut- 

 tering kind of snarl, but does not snap, until the hand, or 

 other object, be brought very close. If this be a stick, or 

 any hard or insensible body, she seldom closes her mouth 

 on it after the first or second time, but maintains the same 

 gaping and snarling appearance, even when it is thrust 

 into her mouth. At the same time, the young, if they have 

 attained any size, either exhibit their signs of defiance, 



