468 
THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
pleasure of such tramps as he. Still, it is to the opossum that we owe our 
symbol for feigning successfully; for, when no other course is open before 
him, the opossum will roll itself into a ball, and “play dead,” so that no abuse 
can make it betray its continued vitality. The young, as soon as born,' are 
retired to the ventral pouches of the mother where they remain until they 
have attained their growth. 
The Crab-eating Opossum or 
Didelphis Cancrivora {Philander 
cancrivorus ) is smaller and darker- 
hued than the common opossum. 
Even more than in the case of 
other species is the tail of the crab¬ 
eating opossum his dependence for 
clinging to branches of a tree while 
feeding on the fruit. It is specially 
fond of crabs, and quite successful 
in fishing for them in Brazilian 
waters. The flesh of the opossum 
is too rich for the untrained palate, 
but by those who have acquired 
the taste, it is said to resemble 
the English hare. Merlin’s Opos¬ 
sum {Philander dorsigerus , or Didelphis dorsigera ) has such a poorly-developed 
pouch that very soon does it 
transfer its young to its back, 
where they hold on partly by 
their feet, but much more by 
twisting their little tails around 
that of their parent. This is 
a Surinam species, and is quite 
handsomely colored in gray- 
brown, or whitish-yellow, with 
darker brown markings around 
the eyes and forehead. The 
Yapock {Clieirionectes yapock, 
or variegatus ) is entirely aquatic, 
cannot climb, but is a remark¬ 
able swimmer and diver, has 
webbed-feet (the front ones used 
for burrowing being less so), 
and squirrel-like cheek-pouches. 
It is found in Brazil and in 
Guiana. There are many spe¬ 
cies belonging to the marsupial 
genus, some of which may be briefly mentioned as follows : 
The Didelphis Quirca Opossum is a Brazilian species differing mainly 
in smallness of size, from the Virginia opossum. They are here referred to 
because one reading accounts of life in Brazil is likely to see them mentioned. 
The Didelphis Elegans and Murina are pouchless and carry their young as do 
LARGE-BROWED WOMBAT. 
BROAD-NOSED WOMBAT. 
