
74 AUSTRALIAN ZOOLOGY. 
flesh-colour, The eyes are encircled with blackish hairs; the skin 
of the inner surface of the ears is brownish-pink, with a few scat- 
tered pale-coloured hairs. The outer surface of the ear, excepting 
near the point and a narrow space along the anterior margin, is 
clothed with a dense and moderately long fur, which is white at the 
posterior angle and towards the apex, but black elsewhere. The 
hairs of the moustaches are long, numerous and black, and there are 
a few long bristly black hairs springing from above the eyes. The 
throat, the under surface of the body, and the inner side of the 
limbs are pale buffy-yellow, with a large oblong patch of deep rust- 
coloured hairs along the chest. The feet are yellowish-white, 
suffused with brown on the toes, the naked parts are flesh-coloured ; 
the claws dusky ; the tail is clothed at the root like the body ; beyond, 
the fur is more bushy, of a harsher character, and black, the last 
inch or so being in some instances white ; the extreme point of the 
tail and the apical half of the under surface are naked. 
Habits—The common opossum is strictly nocturnal in its 
habits. It lives in the hollow spouts and holes of the large gum 
trees during the day, and ascends the branches during thenight. It 
sometimes descends to the ground, where it finds herbs to its taste. 
It is extremely agile, and can leap from branch to branch when 
gamboling in a tree, or eluding a climbing enemy. On moonlight 
nights opossums may be seen frisking on the ground, and running 
from tree tu tree. Their frequent ascents wear a track in the bark of 
some of the giant gum trees by their holding on to the rough bark with 
their powerful curved claws. ‘‘ While climbing,” says Mr. Water- 
house, ‘‘its prehensile tail assists it to maintain a firm hold of 
the branches. I have noticed that in captivity this opossum in 
descending from one perch of its cage to another, or to the floor, in- 
variably encircled with its tail the perch it was quitting, until the 
animal was again securely lodged. Numerous specimens have from 
time to time formed part of the Zoological Society’s living collection 
in London, and, from my own observations, they appeared to be by 
no means intelligent animals. During the daytime they were 
usually asleep, but towards evening they became active and on the 
alert for their food.” Opossums sometimes construct a beautifully 
covered nest among the slender branches of high trees, probably to 
be out of the way of the tiger cats, they being no match for these 
ferocious brutes. They have seldom more than two young ones at a 
time, which are nurtured in their well-developed pouch. They are 
easily tamed and become pets. 
Food.—The buds, leaves and fruit of gum trees, opossums will 
eat birds and their eggs, also tender grass. In captivity, bread and 
milk and various vegetable substances, including fruits. They 
evince an evident fondness for a dead bird. They take whatever 
eatable is given to them by the hands and hold it between them, in 
the manner a squirrel holds a nut. When man encroaches on their 
domain, his crops and fruit are sure to suffer. 
Uses.—This animal constitutes a considerable part of the food 
of the natives, who diligently search for it, and, having discovered a 

