Treatment. My non-interference. 



Note. Recovery instantaneous with my removal 

 ten feet. This whole performance repeated twelve 

 times in as many minutes. 



December 26, 1893. 



I have known the possum too long for a ready 

 faith in his extreme nervousness, too long to 

 believe him so hysterical that the least surprise 

 can frighten him into fits. He has a reasonable 

 fear of dogs ; no fear at all of cats ; and will 

 take his chances any night with a coon for the 

 possession of a hollow log. He will live in the 

 same burrow with other possums, with owls,— 

 with anything in fact,— and overlook any bear- 

 able imposition ; he will run away from every- 

 thing, venture anywhere, and manage to escape 

 from the most impossible situations. Is this an 

 epileptic, an unstrung, flighty creature? Pos- 

 sibly ; but look at him. He rolls in fat ; and 

 how long has obesity been the peculiar accom- 

 paniment of nervousness'? 



It is the amazing coolness of the possum, 



however, that most completely disposes of the 



scientist's pathetic tale of unsteady nerves. A 



creature that will deliberately walk into a trap, 



[23] 



