74 
POO epee ros. M. 
gether*. She brings forth from four to fix at a time. As foon as 
they come into the world they retreat into the falfe belly, blind, naked, 
and exaétly refembling little foetufes. . They faften clofely to the 
teats, as if they grew to them; which has given caufe to the vulgar 
error, that they were created fo. There they adhere as if they were 
inanimate, till they arrive at a degree of perfection in fhape, and 
attain fight, ftrength, and hair: after which they undergo a fort of 
fecond birth. From that time they run into the pouch as an afylum 
from danger. The female carries them about with the utmoft af- 
fection, and would rather be killed than permit this receptacle to be 
opened; for the has the power of contracting or dilating the orifice 
by the help of fome very ftrong mufcles. If they are furprifed, and 
have not time to retreat into the pouch, they will adhere to the 
tail of the parent, and efcape with her Tt. 
The Opoffum is both carnivorous and frugivorous. It is a great 
enemy to poultry; and will fuck the blood and leave the flefh un- 
touched ¢. It climbs trees very expertly, feeding on wild fruits, and 
alfo on various roots. Its tail has the fame prehenfile quality as 
that of fome fpecies of Monkies. It will hang from the branches 
by it, and by fwinging its body, fling itfelf among the boughs of 
the adjacent trees. It is a very fluggifh animal; has a very flow 
pace, and makes fcarcely any efforts to efcape. When it finds itfelf 
on the point of being taken, it counterfeits death ; hardly any torture 
will make it give figns of life §. If the perfon retires, it will put it- 
felf in motion, and creep into fome neighboring bufh. It is more 
tenacious of life than a Cat, and will fuffer great violence before it 
is killed |]. 
The old animals are efteemed as delicate eating as a fucking pig; 
yet the fkin. is very foetid. The Jndian women of Louifiana dye the 
hair, and weave it into girdles and garters q. 
* Bartram’s journal E. Florida, 30. + The fame. t Du Pratz, ii, 65% 
§ The fame, 56. \| Law/on,120+ q Du Pratz, ii. 66. 
GES IT; 
