184 
THE OPOSSUM. 
The opossum belongs to a curious tribe 
animals, which first became known to 
turalists on the discovery of America, whet® 
only most of the species are found ; though’ 
some of them are natives of the Oriental 
Australasian islands. They are princip^i^^^ 
distinguished by a remarkable provision whi^^' 
Nature has made for the safety of their youDg’ 
consisting in a pouch or bag, formed by a 
of the skin. Into this pouch the young 
received soon after their birth, and they 
nursed within it, till they are able to shift 
themselves. 
The species called the Virginian opossiH'® 
is of about the size of a cat, but it appears to 
of a thicker form, owing to the length and erec^ 
position of the hair. It is of a yellowish 
