858 FOREST AND STREAM. 
[JUNE 2, 1900. 

THE ROBERTS SAFETY LAUNCH AND YACHT BOILER. 
Nearly 1500 in use. 
Ww 
250 pounds of steam. Handsome catalogue free. 
ORKS: RED BANK, New Jersey. 
Cable Address: Bruniva, New York. 
Telephone Address: 599 Cortlandt. 
THE ROBERTS SAFETY WATER TUBE BOILER COMPANY, 39 and 41 Cortlandt Street, New York. 
Mullins Pressed Steel Boats Can’t Sink 
Easier to Row—Absolutely Safe 
Made of pressed steel, with air chambers in each end like a life boat, 
Can’t leak—crack—dry out or sink—lasta lifetime. Every 
boat guaranteed, The idea] boat for families—summer 
resorts—parks—boat liveries, etc. Strong—safe— 
b speedy. Write to-day for our large catalog of row 
boats, motor boats, hunting and fishing boats. 
The W. H. Mullins Co.,126 Franklin St., Salem, 0. 
“The 
Sultan” 
16 ft. family pleasure 
boat, as illustrated. Com- 
plete with 1 pair oars 885.00, 












3 I-2and 6 
H.P. Single > 4 - 
Gylindoe Watkins Engines of Quality 
Two E want to place our brand new, handsomely illustrated and complete 
Cycle catalogue in the hands of every yacht owner who desires to better the 
Engine going power, reliability, economy and attractive appearance of his craft. 
Our Marine Gasoline Engines, 
from 2 to 12 horse power, represent no obsolete styles, but the very newest 
patterns, of assured efficiency and strength—weight only where weight is re- 
quired. Built under the direction of manufacturers of years of experience in 
2a model gas and gasoline engine plant, from the very highest 
grade of material, machined by skilled and careful workmen, Every 
engine carefully tested, from five to ten hours under full load, 
before shipment. Fully guaranteed. Write to-day for catalog and 
prices which are bound to interest you. 
THE FRANK M. WATKINS MANUFACTURING CO., 526 Baymiller St., Cincinnati, O. 
REAL LAUNGH AT SMALL COST 
Can be made from an ordinary Canoe or Row-Boat by installing a 
“6 MARINE Actual 1 
Litre SKIPPER”? Engine : 
ENGINE K Pp onl 
H. D. Baird’s latest and greatest 2 cycle aes Yous 
gasoline engine. Simplest, strongest, most 
powerful and speedy engine of its class— 
af drives Canoe, Row-Boat or 12 to 20 ft. Launch ’ we 
6 to 10 miles per hour, or a 35 ft. Sailor 3% to 4 miles per hour as an auxiliary. 
Reversible—runs in either direction—anyone can install and run it—always safe and 
certain to go. SOLD UNDER & YEAR GUARANTEE. 
SAINT CLAIR MOTOR CO., Dept.30 DETROIT, MICH. 
The H. E. BOUCHER 
Mechanical and Model Shops, 
105 MAIDEN LANE, NEW YORK. 
Marine Models su Kinds 
SPECIALTY. 
Model Making. Inventions Developed. 
Fittings for Model Yachts. 
Late ncharge of U. S. Navy Department Model Shops, 
Washington, 



ENGINE WITH COMPLETE BOAT FIT- 
TINGS AND ACCESSORIES . - $39 

CATALOG FREE 


Our NAME PLATE (as above) guarantees correct- 
ness of models and quality, All materials care- 
fully selected. _ Construction entirely by skilled men, 
Variety of models. Prices from $28, up. Prompt delivery. 
Send NOW for free illustrated catalog. 
OLD TOWN CANOE COMPANY 
9 Middle Street, Old Town, Maine. 

_ Weare prepared to sup- 
meio ply your needs—large or 
«7 small, Our salesmen will 
be glad to go over the 
4s. details with you and as- 
ai sist you in making your 
camp in the woods just as 
comfortable as your home, 
Tents, Cooking Utensils, Cots, Tables, Stoves, 
Boats, Canoes, Paddles, Fittings, Etc. 
Our complete catalogue describing the necessities 
and luxuries of a complete camping outfit will be sent 
free upon application. (Send for it to-day.) 
JOHN C. HOPKINS & CO., 119 Chambers St.. NEW YORK 

EVERYTHING FOR CAMPING 



INDIGN MQDFL $ 2.400 
Cedar Ribs and Planking, canvas covered 
brass bang plate, two cane seats finely finished 
in green or red, It’s a strong, steady and fast 
canoe specially priced at $24.00 in place of 
$33.00 to introduce our Outing Goods Cata- 
ogue 364. Paddles, $1.00 each. 
NEw York Sportinc Goops Co a 
17 WARREN ST..NEW YORK 











The Opossum. 
THE habits of the opossum generally resemble 
those of the ’coon and fox, though they are less 
intelligent in defending themselves against an 
attack of an enemy. Knock an opossum on the 
head or any part of the body with a weapon of 
any kind, small or great, and if he makes any 
resistance at all, he will endeavor to bite the 
weapon that hits him instead of the agent using 
it. The opossum seems willing to treat the world 
as the Frenchman promised the bulldog, “If you 
let me alone I won't trouble you.” Put the ani- 
mal in a critical situation and. he will resort to 
stratagem instead of force to elude his pursuers; 
for, if he fiinds escape impossible, he will feign 
himself dead in advance of your own charitable 
intentions toward him, and when you think you 
have given him his quietus and secured him, he 
will unexpectedly wake up and be off. This trick 
of the little animal has given rise to a proverb 
of much meaning among those acquainted with 
his habits, of “playing possum,” and probably it 
is as good an illustration of certain deceptive 
actions in life as can be imagined. Take an 
opossum in good health, corner him up until es- 
cape is impossible, give him a gentle tap that 
would hardly crush a mosquito, and he will 
straighten out as beautiful a “body” as you will 
ever see. In this situation you may thump him, 
cut his flesh and half skin him,-not a muscle will 
move; his eyes are glazed and covered with dust, 
for he has no eyelids to close over them. You 
may even worry him with a dog and satisfy ‘your- 
self that he is really dead, then leave him quiet 
a moment and he will draw a thin film off his 
eyes, and, if not interfered with, be among the 
missing. 
There is another striking characteristic about 
the opossum, which, next to its “playing ’pos- 
sum,” is extraordinary. The tail is long, black 
and destitute of hair, and although it will not 
enable its possessor, like the kangaroo, in the 
language of the showman, “to jump fifty feet 
upwards and forty feet downwards,” still it is of 
great importance in climbing trees and supporting 
the animal when watching for its prey. By this 
tail the ’possum suspends itself for hours to a 
swinging limb of a tree, either for amusement 
or for the purpose of sleeping, which last he will 
do while thus hanging up as sound as if slipping 
his hold did not depend upon his own will. This 
tail-hold is so firm that shooting the animal will 
not cause him to let go, even if you blow his head 
off. On the contrary, he will remain hung up 
until the birds of prey and the elements have 
scattered his carcass to the winds, and yet the 
tail will remain an object of unconquered attach- 
ment to its last object of circumlocuting embrace. 
An old backwoods preacher, who occasionally 
(Continued on page 861.) 

SPAR. COATING 
A perfect finish for all woodwork, spars and iron- 
work exposed to excessive changes in weather and 
temperature. 
MANUFACTURED BY 
EDWARD SMITH @ COMPANY, 
Varnish Makers and Color Grinders 
59 Market Street, 45 Broadway 
Chicago, III. New Yo rk. 
