. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. THE Ol' 495 tliuis 'iulud. It feeds on Viiriy its lialiit dI" usiu;^' tint liiulis of the lif^ht and lel't side sinuiitaueously in a kind of aniliie. As, moreover, tin- creature is lilaiitij^rade in its walk, it may l>e imaj^ined to he anythin;;' but ek-j^aiif in its mode of iimnress upon the j;round. it is such an adejit at "'possumin;,'," or i'einniu;^- death, it does not ])ut this ruse in piaetice until it has used every endeiivour to elu
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Mammals; Natural history; Mammifères; Sciences naturelles. THE Ol' 495 tliuis 'iulud. It feeds on Viiriy its lialiit dI" usiu;^' tint liiulis of the lif^ht and lel't side sinuiitaueously in a kind of aniliie. As, moreover, tin- creature is lilaiitij^rade in its walk, it may l>e imaj^ined to he anythin;;' but ek-j^aiif in its mode of iimnress upon the j;round. it is such an adejit at "'possumin;,'," or i'einniu;^- death, it does not ])ut this ruse in piaetice until it has used every endeiivour to elude its |imsiiers, and linds tiiat it lias no |Missil)ility of escape. It runs sulkily and ^ly ItiiAvard, lookin,!;'on every side for some couvenieut shelter, and sei/iui; the lirst op[)ort\inity III' slipping; under cover. If chased liy a doL^, it takes at once to a tree, and unless the do,n litt accompanied by its master, only clindts to a convenient restin,n-piace, above tlie limit of the doit's ;- iiowers, and there sits (juietly, ])ermittin,n- the doj,' to Inirk itsi'lf hoarse, without troubling itself any further about so insinniiicant an enemy. If, however, as is ^ciKU'ally the case, the bi' accomjianied liy human , the unfortunate Opossum has but little chance (if safety. For as soon as the creature is "treed," the quick, sharp bark of the ' conveys to its master the welcome tidings, and he immediately runs towanls the point from whence piiiceeds the well-known voice of his dog. Having reached the ])osition of tlu; enemy, he ascends the tree in cliase of the Oiiossum, which begins to climb towards the highest branches, followed by its ](ursuing foe. At last 11 uaius the very extremity of .some liranch, and holds on with tail and claws, while the iiiiiu endeavours to dislodge it by shaking violently the bough to which it For a time it retains its liohl, liiit is .soon wearird liy the constant exertion, and falls iieav
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectmammals, booksubjectnaturalhistory
