184 



THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 



those of the pole-cat than the otter ; while its tail does not 

 possess the muscular power of the latter animal. 



Like the otter, it lives upon fish and frogs, but will oc- 

 casionally make a marauding expedition into poultry -yards. 

 Its general colour is a dark reddish-brown, approaching in 

 some specimens almost to black on the head ; while there is 

 a patch of white, varying in size, under the chin. It is 

 trapped by the settlers both in self-defence and on account of 

 its fur, which is of considerable value, and greatly resembles 

 sable a good skin often fetching four or five dollars. 



MARSUPIALS, OR POUCHED ANIMALS : THE VIRGINAN 



OR COMMON OPOSSUM. 



The opossum, with its prehensile tail, marsupial pouch, and 

 cunning ways, stands alone for its singularity among all the 



VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 



animals of the American continent. Many of the tribe are 

 found in South America ; but the Virginian opossum, the 

 size of a full-grown cat, is larger than all its relatives. The 

 head and body measure about twenty-two inches ; and the 



