AND THE OPOSSUM. 
279 
for a long time together. Having ascertained where 
the sleeping place is, the natives set the net at some 
little distance away, and then supplying themselves 
with fire -sticks, form a line from each end of the net, 
diverging in the distance. The party may now be 
considered as forming two sides of a triangle, with 
the net at the apex and the game about the middle of 
the base; as soon as the sides are formed, other natives, 
arrange themselves in a line at the base, and put 
the bird up. The emu finding only one course 
free from fire-sticks, viz. that towards the net or apex 
of the triangle, takes that direction, and becomes 
ensnared. 
Opossums are of various kinds and sizes. They 
inhabit the hollows of trees, or sometimes the tops, 
where they make a house for themselves with 
boughs. They are also found in the holes of rocks. 
They are hunted both in the day-time and by moon- 
light. During the day the native, as he passes 
along, examines minutely the bark of the trees, to 
see whether any marks have been left by the claws 
of the animal in climbing on the previous night. 
If he finds any he is sure that an opossum is con- 
cealed, either in that tree or one adjoining. The 
way he distinguishes whether the marks are recently 
made or otherwise is, by examining the appearance 
of the bark where the wound is, if fresh it is white, 
has rough edges, or has grains of sand adhering 
to it ; if otherwise it is dry and brown, and free from 
loose particles. Having ascertained that an opossum 
