VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 475 
ed sufficient growth and strength^ they emerge, 
after which they occasionally take refuge in the 
same receptacle on the appearance of any dan- 
ger, and are carried about by the parent. This 
is the practice with most of the Opossum tribe; 
but there are two species which have no ventral 
pouch for the reception of their young, but a kind 
of depression or furrow in its stead. 
When imported into Europe (at least into our 
own island), the Opossums have never been 
known to breed; the late Mr. John Hunter having 
frequently procured several for this purpose, but 
could by no means succeed in his endeavours to 
ascertain the particulars of their history in this 
respect. The Kanguroo, however, which is an 
example of a similar contrivance of Nature, has 
afforded opportunities of illustrating the subject 
more satisfactorily. 
The Virginian Opossum, like all the other Ame - 
rican species, is a carnivorous animal, and preys 
on poultry, small birds, &c. in the manner of the 
European Polecat: it is also frugivorous, eating 
several kinds of roots, fruits, &c. It is of a gen- 
tle disposition, and may easily be tamed; but, like 
some other species, it has a disagreeable smell: 
its voice is a sort of grunting squeak : its pace in 
running is not swift, but it is very expert in 
climbing trees, and readily passes, by means of 
its clinging tail, from bough to bough, in the 
manner of a Monkey. The female produces 
four or five at a birth, and has the power of 
