VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. II3 
some of the other species, and cannot for a moment be compared with the 
destruction caused bjr the weasel, the mink, or the skunk. 
The domicile of the Opo.ssam in which it is concealed during the day, 
and where it brings forth its young, which we have often examined, 
is found in vainous localities. This animal is a tolerable digger, although 
far less expert in this quality than the Maryland marmot, its den is 
usually under the roots of trees or stumps, when the ground is so ele- 
vated as to secure it from rains and inundations. The hollow of a large 
fallen tree, or an opening at the roots of a standing one, also serve as 
a convenient place for its nest. The material which we have usually 
found composing this nest along the seaboard of Carolina is the long 
moss {Tillundsia usnoides) ; although we have sometimes found it com- 
posed of a bushel or more of oak and other leaves. 
On firing into a squirrel’s nest wdiich was situated in the fork of a tree some 
forty feet from the ground, we brought down an Opossum, which had evi- 
dently expelled its legitimate occupant. The Florida rat is known to collect 
heaps of sticks and leaves, and construct nests sometimes a yard in diame- 
ter and two feet high : these are usually placed on the ground, but very 
frequently on the entangled vines of the grape, smilax, and supplejack, 
{Zizi})hus volubilis.) In these nests an Opossum may occasionally he found, 
dozing as cozily as if he had a better right than that of mere possession. 
Hunting the Opossum is a very favourite amusement among domestics 
and field labourers on our Southern plantations, of lads broke loose from 
school in the holidays, and even of gentlemen, who are sometunes more 
fond of this sport than of the less profitable and more dangerous and fa- 
tiguing one of hunting the gray fox by* moonlight. Although we have 
never participated in an Opossum hunt, yet we have observed that it af- 
forded much amusement to the sable group that in the majority of instan- 
ces make up the hunting party, and we have on two or three occasions 
been the silent and gratified observers of the preparations that were going 
on, the anticipations indulged in, and the excitement apparent around us. 
On a bright autumnal day, when the abundant rice crop has yielded to 
the sickle, and the maize has just been gathered in, when one or two 
slight white frosts have tinged the fields and woods with a yellowish hue, 
ripened the persimmon, and caused the acorns, chesnuts and chinquepins 
{Caslanea pumilla) to rattle down from the trees and strewed them over the 
ground, we hear arrangements entered into for the hunt. The Opossums 
have been living on the delicacies of the season, and are now in fine order, 
and some are found excessively fat ; a double enjoyment is anticipated, 
the fun of catching and the pleasure of eating this excellent substitute for 
roast pig. 
VOL. n. — 15. 
