394 HABITS OF THE OPOSSUM. 



But no, reader, it is only ' 'possuming,' and no sooner has his enemy withdrawn than it grad- 

 ually gets on its legs, and once more makes for the woods." 



Besides the varied animal diet in which the Opossum indulges, it also eats vegetable sub- 

 stances, committing as much havoc among plantations and fruit-trees as among rabbits and 

 poultry. It is very fond of maize, procuring the coveted food by climbing the tall stems, or 

 by biting them across and breaking them down. It also eats acorns, beech-nuts, chestnuts, 

 •and wild berries, while its fondness for the fruit of the "persimmon" tree is almost pro- 

 verbial. While feeding on these fruits it has been seen hanging by its tail, or its hinder paws, 

 gathering the "persimmons" with its fore-paws, and eating them while 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 possi- 

 bility of escape. It runs sulkily and sneakingly forward, looking on every side for some con- 

 venient shelter, and seizing the first opportunity 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 Opossum, 

 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 the 

 day when they have been promised a '"possum-lrunt," as a reward for good conduct. Not 

 only do they very thoroughly enjoy the moonlight sport, with its exciting concomitants, 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 the year it is extremely fat. 



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

 hybernating 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 into the rudest of 

 traps, and permit itself to be ensnared by a device at which a rat would look with contempt. 

 Strange mixture of craft and dullness ; and yet one which is commonly found in all creatures, 

 whether men or animals, that only possess cunning and no observance at all. For there are 

 none so prone to entangle themselves in difficulties as the over-artful. They must needs 



