spring it, eat the bait, then calmly lie down and 

 sleep until the trapper comes, has no nerves. 

 I used to catch a possum, now and then, in the 

 box-traps set for rabbits. It is a delicate task 

 to take a rabbit from such a trap ; for, give him 

 a crack of chance and away he bolts to freedom. 

 Open the lid carefully when there is a possum 

 inside, and you will find the old fellow curled 

 up with a sweet smile of peace on his face, fast 

 asleep. Shake the trap, and he rouses yawn- 

 ingly, with a mildly injured air, offended at your 

 rudeness, and wanting to know why you should 

 wake an innocent possum from so safe and com- 

 fortable a bed. He blinks at you inquiringly 

 and says : "Please, sir, if you will be so kind as 

 to shut the door and go away, I will finish my 

 nap." And while he is saying it, before your 

 very eyes, off to sleep he goes. 



Is this nervousness? What, then, is it— stu- 

 pidity or insolence'? 



Physically as well as psychologically the pos- 

 sums are out of the ordinary. As every one 

 knows, they are marsupials ; that is, they have 

 a pouch or pocket on the abdomen in which they 

 carry the young. Into this pocket the young 

 [24] 



