154> THE OP POSSUM. 



and conceals its young until they are able to defend 

 themselves. 



Under the belly of this singular female is a bag com- 

 posed of a thick skin, completely lined with soft hair, 

 and at the same time covering the animal's teats, which 

 it can extend and close at pleasure, and where the 

 young ones are at once both nurtured and concealed ; 

 for as they come into the world in a state of imperfec- 

 tion, they require being cherished with peculiar care, 

 and as soon as they gain possession of this abode, they 

 instantly fix themselves upon the teats, where they 

 remain in a state of inactivity, until, from the nou- 

 rishment they receive, they begin to acquire strength. 

 The oppossum at its birth is remarkably small, but re- 

 mains snug in its habitation until it acquires some 

 degree of strength, when it quits it to go in search of 

 different kinds of food, but returns to it again when 

 it requires the aid of sleep. This animal chiefly sub- 

 sists upon birds, which it has a peculiar art of seizing 

 by surprise : it likewise eats a variety of vegetables, 

 and shows the greatest fondness for the sugar-cane. — 

 It is easily tamed, but is an unpleasant domestic, as 

 well from its figure and stupidity, as from its disagree- 

 able scent. 



The marmose is an animal which resembles the op- 

 possum, though it is not of so large a size ; and in- 

 stead of having a bag under its belly, it has two longi- 

 tudinal folds of skin near the thighs, in which the 

 young are comfortably concealed, and where, like the 

 young oppossums, they remain until they acquire 

 strength: they are likewise natives of the new conti- 

 nent ; and, when first born, are said not to be much 

 larger than a bean. 



The caypolin is somewhat larger than the marmose, 

 though, from its habits and disposition, supposed to 



