ALABAMA. ^39 



" denizens of the woods, the youth directed his patient 

 '• searching gaze to the bases of the great boughs, well 

 " knowing that in the fork of one of these the wily crea- 

 '* turc would seek shelter. At last, he saw against the 

 " light of the moon, what seemed the head of the racoon 

 " projecting from one of the greater forks, and steadily 

 "watching it, distinctly saw it move. The fatal ball 

 " instantly sped, and down came the creature, heavily 

 " plumping on the ground. 



'' I had seen racoons before, yet I looked at the car- 

 *' case with interest. You probably are aware that it is 

 "an animal about as large as a fox, to which it bears 

 " some resemblance. It seems, however, larger, from the 

 " fulness of its thick and soft fur, and is more heavy- 

 " bodied. Its grey coat, black and white face, and bushy 

 "tail, alternately banded with black and light grey, 

 " entitle it to admiration ; while the opossum, clothed in 

 " rough wiry hair, of a dirty greyish-white hue, with a 

 " long rat-like tail, is anything but prepossessing. 



" The torches were extinguished, and we sauntered 

 " slowly home. The opossum which had been worried 

 " by the curs was not by any means dead when we 

 " reached the house, and I had an opportunity of wit- 

 " nessing the curious dissimulation which has made the 

 " name of this animal proverbial. Though, if left alone 

 " for a few moments, the attention of the bystanders 

 " apparently diverted from it, it would get on its legs 

 " and begin to creep slily away ; yet no sooner was an 

 " eye turned towards it, than it would crouch up, lie 

 "along motionless, with all its limbs supple, as if just 

 " dead ; nor would any kicks, cuffs, or handlings avail 

 "to produce the least token of life— not the opening of 

 " an eyelid, or the moving of a foot. There it was, dead 

 " evidently, you would say, if you had not detected it 



