HABITS OF THE OPOSSUM. 495 



thus suspended. It also feeds on various roots, which it digs out of the ground with 

 ease. 



Its gait is usually slow and awkward, but when pursued it runs with considerable 

 speed, though in a sufficiently clumsy fashion, caused by its habit of using the limbs of 

 the right and left side simultaneously in a kind of amble. As, moreover, the creature is 

 plantigrade in its walk, it may be imagined to be anything but elegant in its mode of 

 progress upon the ground. Although it is such an adept at " 'possuming," or feigning 

 death, it does not put this ruse in practice until it has used every endeavor to elude its 

 pursuers, and finds that it has no possibility of escape. It runs sulkily and sneakingly 

 forward, looking on every side for some convenient shelter, and seizing the first oppor- 

 tunity of slipping under cover. 



If chased by a dog, it takes at once to a tree, and unless the dog be accompanied by 

 its master, only climbs to a convenient resting-place, above the limit of the dog's leaping 

 powers, and there sits quietly, permitting the dog to bark itself hoarse, without troubling 

 itself any further about so insignificant an enemy. If, however, as is generally the case, 

 the dog be accompanied by human hunters, the unfortunate Opossum has but little 

 chance of safety. For as soon as the creature is " treed," the quick, sharp bark of the 

 dog conveys to its master the welcome tidings, and he immediately runs towards the 

 point from whence proceeds the well-known voice of his dog. 



Having reached the position of the enemy, he ascends the tree in chase of the Opos- 

 sum, which begins to climb towards the highest branches, followed by its pursuing foe. 

 At last it gains the very extremity of some branch, and holds on with tail and claws, 

 while the man endeavors to dislodge it by shaking violently the bough to which it 

 clings. For a time it retains its hold, but is soon wearied by the constant exertion, 

 and falls heavily to the ground, where it is seized and despatched by the expectant 

 dogs. 



The negroes are especially fond of this sport, and look eagerly forward to the close of 

 day when they have been promised a " 'possum-hunt," as a reward for good conduct. 

 Not only do they very thoroughly enjoy the moonlight sport, with its exciting con- 

 comitants, but promise themselves a further gratification, after their return home, in 

 eating the Opossums which have fallen victims to their skill. The flesh of the Opossum 

 is white when cooked, and is considered to be remarkably good, especially when the 

 animal is killed in autumn, for at that time of year it is extremely fat. 



Although, from the great accession of fat in the autumn months, it might be thought 

 a hibernating animal, it is found roaming the woods in search of food even in the 

 coldest night of winter. Still, the large amount of fat with which the body is loaded is 

 calculated to give the animal greater powers of resisting hunger and the severity of the 

 weather than would otherwise have been the case, and enables it to thrive upon the 

 comparatively small amount of food which it can obtain during the season of intense cold. 



It is not a gregarious animal, and even the members of the same family spread 

 themselves widely apart when they are in the open air. 



The Opossum, although so cunning in many respects, is singularly simple in others. 

 There is hardly any animal which is so easily captured, for it will walk in the rudest of 

 traps, and permit itself to be ensnared by a device at which an English rat would look 

 with contempt. Strange mixture of craft and dulness ; and yet one which is commonly 

 found in all creatures, whether men or animals, that only possess cunning, and no ob- 

 servance at all. For there are none so prone to entangle themselves in difficulties as 

 the over-artful. They must needs travel through crooked by-ways, instead of following 

 the open road, and so blunder themselves stupidly and sinuously into needless peril, 

 from which their craftiness sometimes extricates them, it is true, but not without much 

 anxiety and apprehension. 



When captured it is easily tamed, and falls into the habit of domestication with great 

 ease. It is, however, not very agreeable as a domestic companion, as it is gifted with 

 a powerful and very unpleasant odor, which emanates from its person with great force, 

 whenever the animal is irritated or excited. 



The nest of the Opossum is always made in some protected situation, such as the 

 hoik "v of a fallen or a standing tree, or under the shelter of some old projecting roots, 



