198 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



But, as Lucas and Le Souef remark, the term "Opossum" is so 

 firmly fixed in the minds of all Australians that it would be hopeless 

 to attempt to bring any other for the Phalangers into general use. So 

 in this work it is proposed to make concession to popular opinion, 

 and call the Phalangers which are known in Australia as Opossums 

 by that name. 



COMMON OPOSSUM. The Common Opossum (Trichosurus 

 vulpecula) is distributed over the whole of Australia, with the 

 exception of the Cape York district. It is a sprightly and engaging 

 little animal, and a favourite with all nature lovers in the Common- 

 wealth. As a pet it is highly prized, but, as is the fate of all 

 Phalangers, it is persecuted by the pelt-hunters, many thousands 

 being destroyed annually. The skins are extensively used in the 

 manufacture of carriage and other rugs. The fur of the Common 

 Opossum is thick and woolly, and of a grizzled-grey colour on the 

 upper-surfaces of the body; the under-parts are white or yellowish. 

 The tail is thick and bushy, measuring eleven inches, the length of 

 the head and body of a full-grown Opossum of this species being 

 about eighteen inches. 



The Common Opossum is found in all sorts of queer situations, 

 but it is chiefly a dweller in trees; it frequents the lofty gum-trees 

 (Eucalyptus) of the bush, and during the day lies concealed in the 

 hollow spouts. When the moon rises the Opossum wakes up, and 

 its true life begins. It creeps softly about the branches and feeds 

 on the buds and tender leaves of the tree in which its home is made. 

 Rarely the animal comes down to the ground; it is so clearly "cut 

 out" for an arboreal existence that it makes but an awkward figure 

 on earth. The bush boys, when they desire to capture a full-grown 

 Opossum alive, first of all wake it up if it be daylight when they go 

 a-hunting, then, when the little creature has issued from its lair, 

 they try to chase it into some tree of slender girth, whence it may 

 be shaken to the ground. The capture is comparatively easy if this 

 is accomplished. When the Opossum ventures to the ground it is 

 frequently chased by a Fox or Wild Dog, and owing to its awkward 

 gait is always in imminent danger of a violent death. At the base 

 of a big gum-tree the bushman sometimes sees tufts of grey fur 

 and the ground clawed up all about, telling of a tragedy enacted 

 there. 



'Possum shooting is a favourite sport with Australians ; parties of 

 young men sally forth on moonlit nights with Dogs and guns to 



