T98 lawson's history 



ing tlieir dams and houses) of any four footed 

 creatures in the world. Their food is chiefly the 

 harks of trees and shruhs, viz : sassafras, ash, 

 sweet gum and several others. If you take them 

 young they hecome very tame and domestic, hut 

 are very mischievous in spoiling orchards hy brea- 

 king the trees and blocking up your doors in the 

 night with the sticks and wood they bring thither. 

 If they eat anything that is salt it kills them. 

 Their flesh is a sweet food, especially their tail, 

 which is held very dainty. Their fore feet are 

 open like a dog's ; their hind feet webbed like a 

 water fowl's. The skins are good furs for several 

 uses, which every one knows. The leather is very 

 thick; I have known shoes made thereof in Caro- 

 lina, which lasted well. It makes the best hedgers 

 mittens that can be used. 



Muskrats frequent fresh streams and no other, 

 as the bever does. He has a cod of musk which 

 is valuable, as is likewise his fur. 



The possum is found no where but in America. 

 He is the wonder of all the land animals, being 

 the size of a badger, and near that color. The 

 male's pizzle is placed retrograde; and in time of 

 coition, they differ from all other animals, turning 

 tail to tail as dog and bitch when tied. The fe- 

 male doubtless breeds her young at her teats ; for 

 I have seen them stick fast thereto when tliey have 

 been no bigger than a small rasberry, and seem- 

 ingly inanimate. She has a paunch, or false bel- 

 ly, wherein she carries her 3^oung, after they are 



