DESTRUCTIVENESS OF THE 'POSSUM 63 



bacon, two articles that are often eaten by animals that are 

 supposed to live on a quite different class of viands. Indeed 

 there are few small mammals that will not eat cheese at 

 least ; and even insects that are described as entirely 

 vegetarian will eat it greedily. 



The 'possum has a powerful set of teeth which it is by 

 no means slow to use if carelessly handled ; and it is a 

 singularly destructive animal for its size. Like rats and 

 mice it nibbles holes in woollen articles, and as several 

 invade the house together, the amount of damage which is 

 sometimes done is almost incredible ; and until I had the 

 clearest proof of the fact, I could not believe that 'possums 

 were the culprits. 



In the daytime these animals are not seen in any great 

 numbers, though there are often some wanderers abroad, 

 especially if the day is dull and cloudy. They are rarely 

 seen on the ground and appear to leave the trees only to 

 go on marauding expeditions. Sometimes, on clear nights, 

 they may be seen scuttling about the branches in large 

 numbers ; and this is a time that is not neglected by the 

 blackfellow. He is an adept at ferreting the opossums 

 from the hollow boughs in which they take refuge on the 

 least signs of danger. He seems to know by instinct exactly 

 where the 'possum lies, and cutting the dead wood away from 

 behind it, whips it out by the tail, and with one smart blow 

 kills it before it has time to turn and bite. The gins, or 

 native wives, are often employed whole days in this work, 

 which is a profitable one to them, for the bodies of the 

 little animals supply a relished food, while the skins are far 

 more valuable than those of rabbits, and are an object of 

 barter with the white man, bringing in return many coveted 

 luxuries to the savage, of which pipes and tobacco are 

 not the least. 



The " native-bear " {Phoscolarctus cinereus) called by 

 the blacks the koala, is the largest and perhaps the most 

 curious animal found on the slopes of Kosciusko to a height 

 of about two thousand feet. It is a couple of feet in length, 

 and of thick-set, bear-like appearance. It also greatly 

 resembles a sloth, of which animal it seems to take the 



