PODOHED QUADRUPEDS. 129 



country people, who frequently go out with their dogs at night, 

 after the autumnal frosts have begun, and the persimmcin fruit is 

 in its most delicious state. The opossum, as soon as he discovers 

 the approach of his enemies, lies perfectly close to the branch, or 

 places himself snugly in the angle where two limbs separate from 

 each other. The dogs, however, soon announce the fact of his 

 presence, by their baying, and the hunter, ascending the tree, dis- 

 covers the branch upon which the animal is seated, and begins to 

 shake it with great violence, to alarm, and cause him to relax his 

 hold. This is soon effected, and the opossum, attempting to escape 

 to another limb, is pursued immediately, and the shaking is re- 

 newed with greater violence, until at length the terrified quadruped 

 allows himself to drop to the ground, where hunters, or dogs, are 

 prepared to despatch him. 



" Should the hunter, as frequently happens, be unaccom- 

 panied by dogs when the opossum falls to the ground, it does not 

 immediately make its escape, but steals slowly and quietly to a 

 little distance, and then gathering itself into as small a compass as 

 possible, remains as still as if dead. Should there be any quantity 

 of grass or underwood near the tree, this apparently simple artifice 

 is frequently sufficient to secure the animal's escape, as it is diffi- 

 cult by moonlight, or in the shadow of the tree, to distinguish it ; 

 and if the hunter has not carefully observed the spot where it fell, 

 his labor is often in vain. This circumstance, however, is gene- 

 rally attehded to, and the opossum derives but little benefit from 

 his instinctive artifice. 



"After remaining in this apparently lifeless condition for a 

 considerable time, or so long as any noise indicative of danger can 

 be heard, the opossum slowly unfolds himself, and creeping as 

 closely as possible upon the ground, would fain sneak off uaper- 

 ceived. Upon a shout, or outcry, in any tone, from his persecutor, 

 he immediately renews his death-like attitude and stillness. If 

 then approached, moved„or handled, he is still seemingly dead, 

 and might deceive any one not accustomed to his actions. This 

 feigning is repeated as frequently as opportunity is allowed him 

 of attempting to escape." 



I 



