THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 



whitifh yellow ; the hair on the hind part of the neck and the back is foft 

 to the touch, but appears uneven to the eye ; it is above two inches long, 

 each hair is of a yellowifh white at the root, black in the middle, and 

 whitifh at the end ; the fides are covered with dufky hairs ; thofe on the 

 belly are of a dirty white ; they are foft and have a woolly appearance ; the 

 legs and thighs are fhort and black ; the feet dulky; the toes armed with 

 whitifh claws ; that part of the tail which is next to the body is covered 

 with long black hairs for the fpace of three inches ; the reft, to the extremity, 

 is all over fmall fcales of a whitifh colour, which gives it an uncouth 

 appearance, fomewhat refembling the body of a Snake ; it has a prehenfile 

 quality, and the animal frequently hangs by it, fufpended from the branch of 

 a tree, and, by fwinging its body, eafily tranfports itfelf from branch to 

 branch ; the body is round and thick ; the belly of the female is furnifhed 

 with a large pouch or bag, in which the teats are fituated, and which ferves 

 as a flielter for the young, as foon as they are produced ; which period 

 happens long before they have attained to that degree of perfection 

 obfervable in other quadrupeds, when newly born ; and, indeed, before they 

 have arrived at one fourth part of the proportionable fize of animals at their 

 birth ; in this flate they are blind, naked, and totally helplefs ; they are, 

 however, directed by the unerring guide of inftindl, to feek for this fafe 

 afylum, into which they all creep, and fatten fo clofely to the teats, as not to 

 be feparated but with great difficulty (a) : here they not only find fhelter, 

 warmth, and fafety from external accidents, but are amply provided with 

 nourifhment, till they have attained their perfect; fliape and fight, and are 

 covered with hair, and pofTelTed of fufncient ftrength to quit their retreat, 

 and undergo what may be called a fecond birth : after this time they only 

 ufe the pouch as a fafe retreat from danger, and the parent carries them 

 about with her. The attachment of the female to her young is at this 

 period exceflive, and fhe will endure any tortures, rather than fufFer this 



(a) Ulloa aflerts, that he has found five of thefe little creatures hid in the pouch of the mother, three 

 days after fee was dead, and that they were ftill alive, and clinging ftrongly to the teat. 



