256 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



no fight, opens wide its large mouth, and, witb 

 few struggles, surrenders itself to its fate. But 

 our hunters are not yet satisfied, either with 

 the sport or the- meat : they have large families 

 and a host of friends on the plantation, the 

 game is abundant, and the labour in procuring 

 it not fatiguing, so they once more hie on the 

 dogs. The opossum, by its slow gait and 

 heavy tread, leaves its footprints and scent 

 behind it on the soft mud and damp grass. 

 Another is soon started, and hastens up the 

 first small gum, oak, or persimmon tree within 

 its reach; it has clambered up to the highest 

 limb, and sits crouching up with eyes closed to 

 avoid the light. " Off jacket, Jim, and shake 

 him down; show that you know more about 

 'possum than your good-for-nutten fox-dog." 

 As the fellow ascends, the animal continues 

 mounting higher to get beyond his reach ; still 

 he continues in pursuit, until the affrighted 

 opossum "has reached the farthest twig on the 

 extreme branches of the tree. The negro now 

 commences shaking the tall pliant tree top; 

 while, with its hind hands rendered convenient 

 and flexible by its opposing thumb, and with 

 its prehensive tail, the opossum holds on with 

 great tenacity. But it cannot long resist the 

 rapidly accumulating jerks and shocks: sud- 

 denly the feet slip fi:om the smooth, tiny limb, 



