166 



ORDERS OF MAMMALS— POUCHED ANIMALS 



Texas. In Mexico and tropical America several 

 other species are found. Notwithstanding the 

 persistent destruction of the Opossum, both for 

 moonlight sport and for food, it still manages 

 to survive throughout its entire original range, 

 and bids fair to outlive the native American. 



means Mouse-Like Opossum — is a South Ameri- 

 can species which is remarkable because of its 

 diminutive size. The full-grown female specimen 

 shown in the accompanying illustration, with a 

 brood of seven hairless young clinging to the fur 

 of her body, is about the size of an eastern chip- 



E. R. Sanbokn, Photo., New York Zoological Park. 



MURINE OPOSSUM AND YOUNG. 

 About one-half life .size. 



As a pet, or cage animal, the Opossum shows 

 off very poorly, and is rather uninteresting. In 

 the daytime, its sole desire is to curl up into a 

 furry ball, and sleep. If disturbed, it opens its 

 pink mouth very widely, in silent protest, and 

 as soon as the trouble is over, again tucks its 

 head under its bod}', out of sight, and sleeps on. 



The Murine Opossum' — a name which 

 1 Mar-mo 1 'sa murina. 



munk. The abdominal pouch is wholly wanting 

 in this species, and from birth the naked and al- 

 most helpless young must either cling to the fur 

 of the mother or die. As they grow larger, they 

 travel on the back of the mother, with their 

 tendril-like tails clinging to her tail. 



The specimen shown reached New York just 

 as a score of others have before it, — hidden in 

 the interior of a bunch of bananas! 



