MONKEY KIND. 



false belly serves them for a retreat, either when 

 they want to sleep or to suckle, or when they are 

 pursued by an enemy. The dam, on such oc- 

 casions, opens her bag to receive them, which 

 they enter, 



Pars formidine turpi 



Scandunt rursus equum ct nota conduntur in alvo. 



The opossum, when on the ground, is a slow 

 helpless animal; the formation of its hands is 

 alone sufficient to shew its incapacity of running 

 with any degree of swiftness ; but to counter- 

 balance this inconvenience, it climbs trees with 

 great ease and expedition.* It chiefly subsists 

 upon birds, and hides among the leaves of the 

 trees to seize them by surprise. It often also 

 hangs by the tail, which is long and muscular ; 

 and, in this situation, for hours together, with 

 the head downwards, it keeps watching for its 

 prey. If any lesser animal, which it is able to 

 overcome, passes underneath, it drops upon it 

 with deadly aim, and quickly devours it. By 

 means of its tail, the opossum also slings from 

 one tree to another, hunts insects, escapes its 

 pursuers, and provides for its safety. It seems 

 to be a creature that lives upon vegetables as 

 well as animal substances, roots, sugar-canes, the 

 bark, and even the leaves of trees. It is easily 

 tamed, but it is a disagreeable domestic, as well 

 from its stupidity and figure, as its scent, which, 

 however fragrant in small cniautities, fails not to 

 be ungrateful when copiously supplied. 



* Buffbn, vol. xxi. p. 174. 



