1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
133 
The Opossum. — (Didelphis Yirginicmid.) 
— * — 
This is one of those peculiarly American "in- 
stitutions," which, after tlie discovery of the 
Western World, added much to the interest with 
which naturalists regarded America. New flow- 
ers and shrubs, new trees and animals were 
expected, hut as 
a general thing 
these followed in 
some measure the 
old familiar forms 
of Europe. But 
this wonderful ge- 
nus (Didelphis) in 
many important 
respects was an 
entire anomaly. 
In the first place, 
the teeth are more 
numerous than 
those of any other 
then known ani- 
mal ; the hind feet 
are hand-like, be- 
ing furnished with 
a sort of nailless 
thumb, so that the 
animal can grasp 
a branch ; the nak- 
ed tail is prehen- 
sile, enabling the 
animal to use it 
in climbing or to 
suspend itself by it, as in the picture, and, more 
astonishing than all, the females have a belly 
pouch in which the young are reared. This 
pouch is common to the order of marsupial 
animals, which is the prevailing type of the 
mammalia of Australia — the kangaroo, for ex- 
ample. The Opossum Family includes ten or 
twelve genera and 
perhaps fifty spe- 
cies, some of 
which are not 
much larger than 
a common mouse; 
but the Opossum 
is the only one 
found in the Uni- 
ted States, and 
from its size is 
one of the most 
important and in- 
teresting. Its head 
is long, the nose 
straight and point- 
ed, teeth numer- 
ous and sharp, 
ears thin, dark at 
base and bordered 
with white ; fur 
gray, composed of 
fine soft \vool,with 
many long white 
hairs; color on the 
back and legs 
darker. The Opos- 
sum weighs 10 to 
14 pounds,is quick 
and active among . 
the branches of trees, but ciumsy on the ground. 
When pressed to close quarters it feigns death, 
and shows no light, but watches au opportunity 
to escape. From this well known habit comes 
the expression " playing 'possum." A nocturnal 
animal, crafty and stealthy in its motions, feed- 
ing upon fruits and vegetables to some extent, 
but particularly fond of eggs and young birds, 
the nest of many a poor bird is robbed. Young- 
mice are greedily devoured, and many rep- 
tiles also. In fact there is little animal food not 
acceptable, provided the Opossum does not 
have to fight for it. The birth of the young 
seems to be a matter of mystery. When first dis- 
covered they are minute, blind, naked, shapeless 
The Green Turtle (Chelonia Midas.) 
opossum— {JDiddphis Virginiana.) 
things, weighing only a single grain each, and 
each attached to a teat, of course within the 
protecting marsupial pouch. After some fifty 
days, having gained sight and fur, and being 
about as large as little mice, they begin to run 
in and out, though remaining most of the time 
attached to the teats ; when their size is so great 
GBEEN TOBTLE AND SALT WATEli TEBIiAPIN. 
that the pouch will not hold them, they are said 
to cling to the mother's back, coiling their tails 
around hers for additional security. The Opos- 
sum is found in all the Atlantic States south of 
New-York, occasionally in this State, but not 
east of the Hudson River; and southward and 
westward. Its flesh is excellent, usually very 
fat, and resembling that of a sucking pig. 
This animal belongs to the family of Logger- 
head Turtles. It is common in our markets, but 
rarely appears upon the coasts of the Atlantic 
States, except Florida, though occasional speci- 
mens have been found as far north as Long 
Island. It is an 
inhabitant of the 
deep sea in the 
neighborhood of 
the West India 
Islands. It is well 
represented in our 
engraving,and has 
little the" look of 
our land or fresh 
water tortoises. 
The feet are real- 
ly fins, and are 
exclusively used 
for swimming, ex- 
cept when they 
come upon the 
shore to lay their 
eggs. These they 
lay in hollows dug 
in the dry sand, 
high on the beach. 
One hundred and 
fifty to two hun- 
dred eggs are laid 
in a place, they 
are covered with 
sand and left to be hatched by the sun. At 
these times the turtles are taken, and shipped 
in great numbers to the markets of the United 
States and Europe. They weigh from two hun- 
dred to four hundred pounds. Considerable 
pains is now taken on many of the West India 
Islands to prevent the destruction of the eggs 
and of the turtles 
before the eggs 
are laid. When 
the young hatch 
they- shuffle away 
down to the wa- 
ter and are seen 
no more until 
they appear of full 
size, living appa- 
rently continually 
underwater. They 
feed upon a kind 
of sea weed called 
turtle grass. The 
general color of 
this turtle is olive 
green, and the fat 
has a greenish 
hue. They never 
bite, we believe, 
but sometimes 
strike with their 
"flippers." In 
market the fore 
and hind tins on 
the same side are 
usually tied to- 
gether by a cord 
passed through 
flesh of these animals is 
cut into steaks for broil- 
ing or frying, and those parts unfit for steaks 
are used for the popular " green turtle soup." 
Tin; Salt Water Terrapin (Malaeoelem- 
mya paimtris.)—Th.o little fellow at the left of 
the picture is another favorite of the epicure. 
The Sail Water Terrapin inhabits the salt water 
the leathery web. Thi 
savory and tender, beius 
