OPOSSUM. 



Didelfihys virginiana. Shaw, 



THE Opossum is the only member of its order, the Marsu- 

 pialia, which inhabits J^orth America. It is confined to the 

 southern portion, its range not reaching much north of the Ohio 

 River on the west or New Jersey on the east. It is probably never 

 found east of the Hudson River. Other species of the genus in- 

 habit South and Central America, and one, doubtfully distinct from 

 that of the Southern States, occurs in California and Arizona. 



This animal is about twenty inches long to the root of the tail, 

 which appendage is fifteen inches in length. The color is pale 

 greyish, the hair being nearly white with browm tips. The tail is 

 nearly naked and is prehensile ; and the general aspect of the 

 creature is rat-like. 



It is with a certain feeling of sadness that we chronicle the 

 dying out, one by one, of old customs and habits. Each year old 

 usages give place to new, and the change certainly in very many 

 cases is not for the better. 



The Opossum can hardly be classed among the game animals 

 of America, yet its pursuit in the South in old plantation days used 

 to afford the staple amusement for the dusky toilers of the cotton 

 States. It was the custom in ante-bellum times, as often as the re- 

 volving year brought round the late &11 days with their ripened 

 fruit and golden grain, for the dark population of the plantation, 

 occasionally accompanied by young " massa," to have a grand 

 'Possum hunt a la mode. This custom, through desuetude and 

 change of circumstances, has been well-nigh consigned to oblivion, 

 and we cannot but regret its death. The opossum is not often 

 found north of Maryland and Virginia, but is rather abundant 

 south of these States. 



Its food, upon which it becomes fat and toothsome to the dusky 



