38 TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



pouchj wherein are the nipples — an odd one in the 

 middle, the rest forming a circle round it. 



The soles of the paws are naked, and all the toes have 

 claws except the inner one of the hind foot, which is 

 clawless, and acts like a thumb. In the front of the 

 jaws are ten small teeth above and eight below, and there 

 are seven grinders on either side of each jaw, one more 

 wisdom tooth than even any American ape has. 



The opossum is very destructive to poultry, but it robs 

 birds' nests and feeds on fruit, its tail and hind feet 

 being as well suited for climbing trees as those of the 

 spider monkey. The expression " playing 'possum " refers 

 to its habit of feigning death when pursued and over- 

 taken. We have been assured that it will on such occa- 

 sions endure much pain before it will exhibit any signs 

 of life. The female brings forth from twelve to sixteen 

 young, making a nest of dry grass in some hollow tree, 

 or at a convenient spot among a tree's boughs. The new- 

 born young are said to w^eigh scarcely more than a grain. 

 Though they are naked, blind, and little defined in shape, 

 they manage to find the mother's teats, to which they 

 attach themselves firmly. 



In about five days they grow to the size of a mouse 

 and become shapely. Soon they wall quit the pouch for 

 a time, returning if frightened, and also to feed. While 

 thus sheltering her young the mother will endure any 

 torture rather than allow her pouch to be opened. 



After this preliminary notice of the creature called 

 the opossum, we may proceed to consider what its nature 

 is, and wherein its most interesting pecuharities, as re- 

 vealed by modern science, really consist. 



When America was first visited by the explorers who 

 succeeded Columbus, the opossum was noted as among 

 its novelties, by R. Hamor in his description of Yh-ginia, 



