24 
LITTLE FOLKS 
When caught, her best means of defense is a trick, which has 
become famous in the world by the name of " playing 'possum.' 1 
This trick is merely pretending to be dead. She will lie perfectly 
motionless and take any amount of beating and worrying by dogs. 
But so far from being dead, or even stupid, the poor little creature 
was never more wide awake, and the instant her tormentors turn 
their backs she is up and off. There are about twenty kinds of 
Opossums known, mostly found in South America. 
One of the smaller ones, called Merians Opossum, has no fur 
b>ag for her babies, so when the little creatures are born, she puts 
them on her back, where they hold on to her fur with their claws, 
and curl their little tails around hers, to steady themselves ; droll 
enough they look, I can tell you. This little mother is about the 
£ize<of a small rat, and lives in Surinam. 
