256 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
no fight, opens wide its large mouth, and, with 
few struggles, surrenders itself to its fate. But 
our hunters are not yet satisfied, either with 
the sport or the meat: they have large families 
and a host of friends on the plantation, the 
game is abundant, and the labour in procuring 
it not fatiguing, so they once more hie on the 
dogs. The opossum, by its slow gait and 
heavy tread, leaves its footprints and scent 
behind it on the soft mud and damp grass. 
Another is soon started, and hastens up the 
first small gum, oak, or persimmon tree within 
its reach; it has clambered up to the highest 
limb, and sits crouching up with eyes closed to 
avoid the light. “Off jacket, Jim, and shake 
him down; show that you know more about 
‘possum than your good-for-nutten fox-dog.” 
As the fellow ascends, the animal continues 
mounting higher to get beyond his reach; still 
he continues in pursuit, until the affrighted 
opossum has reached the farthest twig on the 
extreme branches of the tree. The negro now 
commences shaking the tall pliant tree top; 
while, with its hind hands rendered convenient 
and flexible by its opposing thumb, and with 
its prehensive tail, the opossum holds on with 
great tenacity. But it cannot long resist the 
rapidly accumulating jerks and shocks: sud. 
denly the feet slip from the smooth, tiny mb, 
