258 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 
his opportunity, and unexpectedly recovering his breath, 
will make his escape. 
This trick of the little animal has given rise to a 
proverb of much meaning among those acquainted with 
his habits, entitled, “ playing ’possum,” and probably it 
is as good an illustration of certain deceptive actions of 
life as can be well imagined. 
Take an opossum in good health, corner him up un- 
til escape is impossible, then give him a gentle tap on 
the body that would hardly crush a mosquito, and he 
will straighten out, and be, according to all indications, 
perfectly dead. In this situation you may thump him, 
cut his flesh, and half skin him; not a muscle will 
move; his eyes are glazed and covered with dust, for he 
has no eyelids to close over them. You may even worry 
him with a dog, and satisfy yourself that he is really 
defunct; then leave him quiet a moment, and he will 
draw a thin film from his eyes, and, if not interfered 
with, be among the missing. 
An Irishman, meeting with one of these little ani- 
mals in a public road, was thrown into admiration at its 
appearance, and on being asked why he did not bring 
the “ thing” home with him, said he: 
“On sight, I popped him with my shillelah ; he died 
off immadiately, and I thrust the spalpeen ito my coat 
pocket ! ‘ There’s a dinner, ony how,’ I said to myself; 
and scarcely had I made the observation, than he com- 
menced devouring me, biting through my breeches, the 
