ANIMAf.S. 



15'9 



ordinary one, it receives a kind of additional incubation ; and ac- 

 quires, at last, strength enough to follow the dam wherever she 

 goes. We have many reasons to suppose that the young of this 

 animal are all brought forth prematurely, or before they have ac- 

 quired that degree of perfection which is common in other quad- 

 rupeds. The little ones, when first produced, are in a manner bur 

 half completed ; and some travellers assert, that they lu-e at thai 

 time not much larger than flies. We are assured also, tliat im- 

 mediately on quitting the real womb they creep into the false one ; 

 where they continue fixed to the teat, until they have strength 

 suflicient to venture once more into the open air, and share the 

 fatigues of the parent. UUoa assures us, that he has found five 

 of these little creatures hidden in the belly of the dam three days 

 after she was dead, still alive, and all clinging to the teat with 

 great avidity. It is probable, therefore, that upon their first en- 

 tering the false womb, they seldom stir out from thence ; but 

 when more advanced, they venture forth several times in the 

 day, and at last seldom make use of their retreat, excipt in case" 

 of necessity or danger. Travellers are not agreed in their ac 

 counts of the time which these animals take to continue in the 

 false womb ; some assure us they remain there for several weeks ; 

 and others, more precisely, mention a month. During this 

 period of strange gestation there is no difficulty in opening the 

 bag in which they are concealed ; they may be reckoned, ex- 

 amined, and handled, without much inconvenience j for they 

 keep fixed to the teat, and cling there as firm as if they made a 

 part of the body of the animal that bears them. When they are 

 grown stronger, they drop from the teat into the bag in which 

 they are contained ; and at last find their way out, in search of 

 more copious subsistence. Still, however, the false belly serves 

 them for a retreat, either when they want to sleep or to suckle, 

 or when they are pursued by an enemy. The dam, on such oc- 

 casions, opens her bag to receive them, which they enter, 



-Pars formidine turpi 



Scandunt rursus eqiium et uota conduntur iu alvo. 



The opossum, when on the ground, is a slow, helpless ani- 

 mal ; the formation of its hands are alone suificient to show its 

 incapacity of running with any degree or swiftness ; but, to 

 courrterbalance this inconvenience, it climbs trees with great ease 



