. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. THE OPOSSUMS 165 THE OPOSSUM FAMILY, Diddphyidae. The New World contains more than twenty species of omnivorous animals, varying in size from a large cat to a small rat, mostly provided with long, hairless tails that are fully prehensile, and always well clad with fine and abundant hair. In all species save a few, the female pos- sesses the abdominal pouch to which every mar- supial female is entitled, but in some species it is either rudimentary or wholly lacking. These an
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. THE OPOSSUMS 165 THE OPOSSUM FAMILY, Diddphyidae. The New World contains more than twenty species of omnivorous animals, varying in size from a large cat to a small rat, mostly provided with long, hairless tails that are fully prehensile, and always well clad with fine and abundant hair. In all species save a few, the female pos- sesses the abdominal pouch to which every mar- supial female is entitled, but in some species it is either rudimentary or wholly lacking. These animals are the Opossums, and while the major- ity of the species are confined to South America, our North American representative is about as widely known as all the tropical species com- bined. The Virginia Opossum' is a typical marsu- pial, but differs widely from all the Australian members of that Order. Seemingly it is a dull- witted, slow-moving creature, and so ill-fitted by Nature either to fight or to run away, that it might be considered almost defenceless. But let us see what use this odd little animal makes of the physical and mental equipment which Nature has given it. It eats almost everything that can be chewed, —wild fruit, berries, green corn, insect larvae, eggs, young birds and quadrupeds, soft-shelled nuts, and certain roots. It is a good climber, and has a very useful prehensile tail. It forages on the ground quite as successfully as a raccoon. Usually it burrows under the roots of a large tree, where it is impossible for a hunter to dig it out, but sometimes it makes the mistake of enter- ing a hollow log. Like the bear and woodchuck, it stores up under its skin a plentiful supply of fat for winter use, when food is scarce and dear. Above all, the female has a nice, warm pouch in which to carry and protect her helpless young, instead of leaving them in the nest to catch their death of cold, or be eaten by some enemy. The young of the Opossum vary in number
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