THE OPOSSUM. 149 



him to relax his hold. This is soon effected, and the 

 Opossum, attempting to escape to another limb, is pursued 

 immediately, and the shaking is renewed with greater vio- 

 lence, until at length the terrified quadruped allows himself 

 to drop to the ground, where hunters or dogs are prepared 

 to despatch him. 



" Should the hunter, as frequently happens, be unac- 

 companied by dogs when the Opossum falls to the ground, 

 it does not immediately make its escape, but steals slowly 

 and quietly to a little distance, and then, gathering itself 

 into as small a compass as possible, remains as still as if 

 dead. Should there be any quantity of grass or underwood 

 near the tree, this apparently simple artifice is frequently 

 sufficient to secure the, animal's escape, as it is difficult by 

 moonlight, or in the shadow of the tree, to distinguish it ; 

 and if tjie hunter has not carefully observed the spot 

 where it fell, his labor is often in vain. This circumstance, 

 however, is generally attended to, and the Opossum de- 

 rives but little benefit from his instinctive artifice. 



"After remaining in this apparently lifeless condition for 

 a considerable time, or so long as any noise indicative of 

 danger can be heard, the Opossum slowly unfolds himself, 

 and, creeping as closely as possible upon the ground, 

 would fain sneak off unperceived. Upon a shout, or out- 

 cry, in any tone, from his persecutor, he immediately re- 

 news his death-like attitude and stillness. If then ap- 

 proached, moved, or handled, he is still seemingly dead, 

 and might deceive any one not accustomed to his actions. 

 This feigning is repeated as frequently as opportunity is 

 allowed him of attempting to escape ; and is known so 

 well to the country folks, as to have long since passed into 

 a proverb : ' He is playing 'possum^ is applied with great 

 readiness by them to any one who is thought to act deceit- 

 fully, or wishes to appear what he is not. 



" The usual haunts of the Opossum are thick forests ; 

 and their dens are generally in hollows of decayed trees, 



VOL. II. 10 



