THE LIVING WORLD. 
467 
hardly expect to trace every step of 
varieties which will, because of the 
peculiarities of their structure, be 
classed differently by various natural¬ 
ists, as these are most impressed by 
one or another structural peculiarity. 
This very complication of structure 
seems to our minds most conclusive 
evidence of the gradual evolution of 
the animal kingdom, as well as for 
the reversions and freaks which 
might reasonably be expected. 
Some of the marsupials have not 
even a rudimentary pouch, and yet 
the other features of their structure 
relate them closely to the pouch-bear¬ 
ing family. The existing forms of 
marsupials do not directly represent 
succession to the monotremes, but a 
study of their fossil ancestors has 
led naturalists to assign to the 
family the second place in the as¬ 
cending scale. 
an insensible gradation or to fail to find 
THE OPOSSUM. 
Many things have united to lend 
reputation to the American Opos¬ 
sum. For hunting this animal is 
a familiar sport to those who live 
in the Southern States; its flesh is 
highly prized by the negroes ; its 
form, its habits and its characteristics are all such as to attract atten- 
COMMON OPOSSUM. 
very troublesome^ to the fowls and 
tion and excite comment. The Com¬ 
mon Opossum {Didelphis virginiana) ) 
as the name implies, is common to 
nearly all the States of America, though 
most persistently hunted in the South, 
yet the flesh of those found in the 
Northern States, where the cold is severe, 
supplies a much more palatable dish. 
This species is about three feet in 
length, and half as much in thickness, 
is grayish-white, and its prehensile 
tail is allowed about a foot and a 
quarter of length, and supplied with 
scales instead of fur. Being a remark¬ 
ably good climber, and uniformly in a 
state of ravenous hunger, the opossum is 
eggs, which farmers do not raise for the 
