190 



POUCHED MAMMALS 



North American representative is about as widely known as 

 all the tropical species combined. 



The Virginia Opossum 1 is a typical marsupial, but 

 differs widely from all the Australian members of that Order. 



VIRGINIA OPOSSUMS. 



Seemingly it is a dull-witted, slow-moving creature, and so ill- 

 fitted by Nature either to fight or to run away, that it might 

 be considered almost defenceless. But let us see what use 

 this odd little animal makes of the physical and mental equip- 

 ment which Nature has given it. 



It eats almost everything that can be chewed, — wild fruit, 

 berries, green corn, insect larvae, eggs, young birds and 

 quadrupeds, soft-shelled nuts and certain roots. It is a 

 good climber, and has a very useful prehensile tail. It for- 



1 Di-del'phis vir-gln-i-an'a. 



