451 HISrOEY OF 



and expedition.' It chiefly subsists upon birds; and I'idei 

 among the leaves of the trees to seize them by surprise. It 

 often also hangs by the tail, which is long and muscular ; and in 

 this situation, for hours together, with the head downwards, it 

 keeps watching for its prey. If any lesser animal, which it is 

 able to overcome, passes underneath, it drops upon it with dead- 

 ly aim, and quickly devours it. By means of its tail, the opos- 

 sum also slings from one tree to another, hunts insects, escapes 

 its pursuers, and provides for its safety. It seems to be a crea- 

 ture that lives upon vegetables, as well as animal substances, 

 roots, sugarcanes, the bark, and even the leaves of trees. It is 

 easily tamed, but, it is a disagreeable domestic, as well from its 

 stupidity and figure as its scent, which, however fragrant in small 

 quantities, fails not to be ungrateful when copiously supplied.* 



An animal greatly resembling the former,'' is the marmose, 

 which is found in the same continent. It seems only to differ 

 in size, being less ; and, instead of a bag to receive its young, 

 has only two longitudinal folds near the thighs, within which the 

 young, which are prematurely brought forth, as in the last in- 

 stance, continue to suckle. The young of these, when first pro- 

 duced, are not above the size of a bean ; but continue sticking to 

 the teat, until they have an-ived at greater maturity. 



The CAYOPOLiN is somewhat larger than the former, and a 

 good deal resembling it in habits and figure, except that its snout 

 is more pointed, its tail longer in proportion, and its colour dif- 

 ferent, being of an ash, somewhat inclining to yellow ; however, 

 I should suppose it to be only a variety of the former. 



To this number we may add the philanger, so called by Mr 

 Buffon ; a good deal resembling the former, but distinguished by 

 the fashion of its hinder hands ; the thumb and fore-finger being 

 joined together, except at the extremities, f This animal is about 



1 Buffon, vol. xxi. p. 17-i. 



« An animal nearly allied to the Opossum is the Kangaroo of New Hoi 

 Hnd, which will be found described in a succeeding chapter. 



2 Buffon, vol. xxi. p. 212. 



f It was in consequence of this union that these mammalia received the 

 name of Phalangers, from Buffon and Daubenton. It was a remarkable 

 character at the epoch in wliich those writers flourished, and they named 

 from it the only species then known to exhibit it Since that period, how- 

 ever, it has been found in many other genera. 



These animals live almost continually in trees, where tlicy sabsUt on 



