258 Descriptive Zoology. 



Opossums are very tenacious of life, and it is commonly 

 reported that after a " possum " has been severely pounded 

 and " every bone in its body broken," it later gets up and 

 crawls away. The following are some facts of structure 



FIG. 152. OPOSSUM. 



From photograph from Recreation, by permission of G. O. Shields. 



that may explain such reports. First, the skin and hair 

 make a thick protective covering, under which is usually a 

 thick layer of fat. The chewing muscles extend far up 

 on the top of the head, meeting in the middle line. The 



