PHALANGERS. 



365 



ments ; they lodge in trees, and there pursue birds and insects, but they do 

 not reject fruits. About thirty species have been described. 

 The Virginian Opos- 



EOXDhDiddph is Virg inia 11 us] 

 was the earliest known of the 

 Marsupialia, and is one of the 

 largest of the family. Jt is 

 about the size of a cat, cover- 

 ed with grey fur, thick and 

 .soft, but of no value ; lives 

 on trees throughout the whole 

 United States, and is prover- 

 bial for its singular habit of 

 counterfeiting death when 

 alarmed. Another species, 

 found in South America, call- 

 ed the Mouse Opossum (D. 

 Mnrina] (Fig. 403), has the 

 marsupial pouch imperfectly 

 developed, to compensate for 

 which the parent carries her 

 young upon her back, where 

 they better maintain their 



position, amidst the climbing and leaping movements of the mother, by twining their 

 long, slender, and prehensile tails around hers. 



The Dasyuri (Dasyunes)* have the tail covered with long hairs, and not 

 prehensile. They inhabit New Holland, and live on insects and dead flesh. 

 Sometimes they get into houses, where their voracity makes them very un- 

 welcome guests. They do not climb tress. 



FIG. 403. MOUSE OPOSSUM AND YOUNG. 



FIG. 404. DORMOUSE PHALAXGER 



The Phalangers (Phalangistce) are climbers, and are furnished with c. 

 * Sao-us, dasys, hairy ; dvpd, oura, a fail. 



