OPOSSUMS. 



279 



form being generally known as the crab-eating opossum. The general colour of 

 the fur may, indeed, vary through all the intermediate shades from black to white, 

 while the hair on the face shows an almost equal amount of variation, the northern 

 forms being almost wholly white in this region, while those from the south are 

 darker, and often nearly black. In all cases the pouch is complete; but the 

 number of teats may vary from five to thirteen. 



The range of this widely-spread species includes the whole of temperate 

 North America, and extends southwards through the tropical regions of the other 



PHILANDER OPOSSUM (| nat. size). 



half of the continent. In many parts it is one of the commonest animals, and may 

 be met with even in towns, where it lies concealed during the day in drains and 

 other lurking-places. Its diet is a mixed one, comprising fruits, roots, birds, 

 and other small animals, eggs, and carrion ; and it is reported to be very destructive 

 to poultry. With the aid of its prehensile tail, this opossum is- one of the most 

 expert of climbing mammals ; and when caught, it has, in common with some of 

 the other members of its genus, the habit of feigning death. Like so many 

 marsupials, it is extremely tenacious of life. The young are born in the spring, 

 and comprise from six to sixteen in a litter. They remain in the pouch till they 



