person's hand and they make use of it grasping a limb as one would 

 with the hand. The tail is also prehensile, so that they use it in 

 climbing or hanging from a limb in reaching for fruit, or for a limb 

 below them. 



If slightly wounded or made captive in any way they have 

 a habit of feigning death so successfully as to deceive any one, but if 

 left alone for a moment they quickly come to life and are up and 

 off as lively as ever. 



When camping in the south, the opossum will often get into the 

 box of provisions and get caught in that way. Their flesh is very 

 palatable and is considered a luxury by the negroes and by many 

 hunters. 



They dislike the cold weather and at that time are rarely to be 

 found, except in warm days of sunshine, when they will venture 

 forth in quest of food and possibly for a warmer location. 



225 



