316 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



and if you can overcome your scruples enough to 

 taste the meat after it is prepared by one of the 

 sable huntsmen, you will pronounce it good. 



Though this marsupial sometimes makes raids 

 upon hens' nests and occasionally upon the hens 

 themselves, the good it accomplishes in exterminat- 

 ing other more mischievous animals doubly repays 

 for a few stolen eggs and an occasional chicken. 

 One that Bachman kept in a stable chased or de- 

 voured every rat upon the place. 



I once secured a large female opossum from 

 Charleston, S. C. When caught she had three 

 young ones in her pouch, but when the Charleston 

 steamer arrived at this port I was disappointed 

 to find the young ones missing. It is said that these 

 animals are readily domesticated, soon becoming 

 very tame and gentle, which is probably true. But 

 the one I had, possibly through disappointment 

 at the loss of her family, had a very ugly temper. 

 She occupied the house formerly the home of the 

 pygmy musk deer, an illustration and description 

 of which you will find in this book. Whenever 

 I approached the house she retreated to the further- 

 most corner and there, with distended jaws, defied 

 further molestation. 



The opossum to me is most interesting because 

 it is 



AN ANIMAL OF NOVEL CONSTRUCTION 



and habits, not because it shows any great degree of 

 intelligence, but it makes a good pet. I have eaten 



