OPOSSUM HUNTING. pas 
evident inferiority of the other parts of the animal’s 
construction. 
The opossum makes a burrow in the ground, gene- 
rally found near habitations. In the day time it sleeps, 
and prowls at night. The moon in its brilliancy seems 
to dazzle it, for under the bright rays of the queen of 
night it is often knocked on the head by the negro hunt- 
er, without apparently perceiving it has an enemy near. 
The habits of the opossum generally resemble those 
of the “coon” and fox, though they are, as might be 
supposed from our imperfect description, infinitely less 
intelligent in defending themselves against the attack 
of an enemy. Knock an opossum on the head or any 
part of the body, with a weapon of any kind, small or 
great, and if he makes any resistance at all, he will en- 
deavor to bite the weapon, instead of the agent using 
it. The opossum is, in fact, a harmless little creature, 
and seems to belong to some peace society, the members 
of which have agreed to act toward the world as the 
boy promised to do with the bull-dog, “ If you will let 
me alone, I won’t trouble you.” 
Put the animal in a critical situation, and he will 
resort to stratagem instead of force to elude his pur- 
suers ; for if he finds escape impossible, he will feign 
himself dead in advance of giving you an opportunity to 
carry out your destructive intentions toward him; or 
when you think you have destroyed him, he will watch 
