128 VERTEBRATES. 



to approach, when set at bay. The hunters immediately hamstring 

 them when thrown, to prevent injury to themselves or the dogs; 

 while the black natives give them a heavy blow over the loins 

 with their waddie, which has the effect to completely paralyze 

 their hind legs, as all the large nerves supplying these parts pas% 

 out there. 



The Oposstjm. — This animal inhabits North America, and 

 is hunted with almost as much perseverance as the racoon, not, 

 however, for the sake of its fur, but of its flesh. When it per- 

 ceives the hunter, it lies, still between the branches, but if dis- 

 turbed from its hiding-place, it attempts to escape by dropping 

 among the herbage and creeping silently away. Its food consists 

 of insects, birds, eggs, Itc, and it is very destructive among the 

 hen-roosts. The Opossum uses its tail for climbing and swinging 

 from branch to branch as the spider monkeys use theirs ; but the 

 Opossum uses its tail in a mannerthat the monkeys have never yet 

 been observed to do, that is, making it a support for its young, 

 who sit on its back and twist their tails round their mother's in 

 order to prevent them from falling off. 



Dr. Godwin thus describes its appearance and habits : " The 

 general color of the opossum is a whitish gray. From the top of 

 the head along the back and upper part of the sides, the gray is 

 darkest, and this color is produced by the intermixture of coarse 

 white hairs, upwards of three inches long, with a shorter, closer, 

 and softer hair, which is white at base, and black for about half 

 an inch at tip. The whole pelage (fur) is of a woolly softness 

 and the long white hairs diverging considerably, allow the back 

 parti to be seen, so as to give the general gray color already men 

 tioned On the face the wool is short, and of a smoky white 

 color ; that on the belly is of the same character, but is longer 

 on the fore and hind legs ; the color is nearly black from the body 

 to the digits, which are naked beneath. The tail is thick and 

 black, foi upwards of three inches at base, and is covered by small 

 hexagonal scales, having short rigid hairs interspersed throughout 

 its length, which are but slightly perceptible at a little distance. 



" The hunting of the opossum is a favorite sport with the 



