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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 M ouse-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. Sanborn, 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 body, out of sight, and sleeps on. 
The Murine Opossum 1 — a name which 
1 Mar-mo' 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! 
