VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 
429 
thighs are blackish ; its feet dusky, and its claws, 
which are sharp, unless the thumb of the hind feet, 
white. The base of its tail is clothed with long 
hair like that on its back ; the rest of the tail 
is covered with small scales ; the half next the 
body is black, the rest white ; it has a disagreeable 
appearance, looking like the body of a snake. It 
has the same prehensile qualities as that of some 
monkies. 
Its body is round and very thick, and its legs 
are short ; the female has a large pouch on the 
lower part of her belly, in which the teats are 
lodged, and where the young shelter themselves 
as soon as they are brought forth. The usual 
length of this animal, when full grown, is about 
fifteen or twenty inches ; of its tail, twelve. It 
inhabits Virginia, Louisiana, Mexico, Brasil, and 
Peru. It is very destructive to poultry ; the more 
so as it sucks their blood without eating their flesh. 
It feeds also on roots and wild fruits. It is very 
active in climbing trees, will hang suspended by 
its tail, and, by sw inging its body, fling itself 
among the boughs of a neighbouring tree. It 
continues frequently hanging by the tail, with 
its head downwards. It hunts eagerly after birds 
and their nests. It walks very slow ; when over- 
taken, it w ill feign itself dead ; but it is not easily 
killed, being as tenacious of life as a cat. It is 
harmless, and easily tamed. 
When the female is about to bring forth, she 
makes a thick nest of dry grass, in some close 
bush, at the foot of a tree, and brings forth fi ve 
or six young ones at a time. As soon as the young 
are brought forth, they take shelter in the pouch 
or false belly, or are placed in it by the mother, 
and fasten so closely to the teats, that they 
are not to be separated without difficulty* They 
are small, blind, and naked, when new born. 
