HABITS OP THE OPOSSUM. 47 



"shams Abraham." In this situation you may torture 

 him, cut his skin, almost flay him, and he will not move 

 a single muscle. His eyes grow dull and glazed, as if 

 covered with a film, for he has no eyelids to protect his 

 organs of sight. He will allow you even to throw him to 

 your dogs, so complete is his acting, and so consummate 

 his power of deception ; but forget him only for a moment, 

 and he opens his dull, glazed eyes, seizes his opportunity, 

 and turns tail in the most expeditious manner. 



In size the opossum equals a small dog, measuring about 

 three and a quarter feet in total length. He feeds upon 

 young rabbits, mice, rats, reptiles of various kinds, insects, 

 eggs, and young birds ; and occasionally he makes a descent 

 upon the poultry-yard, and regales himself with fowd or 

 chicken. In these depredations he displays an astonishing 

 amount of cunning and perseverance. 



" Travelling through the woods," says Audubon, " per- 

 haps on the ground, perhaps aloft from tree to tree, the 

 opossum hears a cock crow, and its heart swells as it remem- 

 bers the savoury food on which it regaled itself last summer 

 in the neighbouring farmyard. With great care, however, it 

 advances, and at last conceals itself in the very hen-house. 



" Honest farmer, why did you kill so many crows last 

 winter ? Ay, and ravens too ? Well, you have had your 

 own way of it; but now hie to the village and procure a 

 store of ammunition, clean your rusty gun, set your traps, 

 and teach your lazy curs to watch the opossum. There it 

 comes ! The sun is scarcely down, but the appetite of the 

 prowler is here : hear the screams of one of your best 

 chickens that has been seized by him ! The cunning beast 



