Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-08-17
FRIDAY e4xgmst ~, 1927.
No. 81.


ing is renewed with greater violence, until at length
the terrified quadruped allows himselfto crop to the
grourd, where hunters or dogs prepared to despatch
him.
Should the hunter, as frequently happens. be I'm.
accompanied by dogs when the opossum falls to the
ground it dues not Immediately make its escape, but
steals slowly and quietly to little distance, and
then gathering itselfinto small compass pos
sible, remains as still as if dead Should there he
any quantity Of grass or underwood near the tree,
this apparently simple ar6ce is frequently sufficient
to secure the animals escape, it is difficult by
moonlight in the shadow of the tree, to distinguish
it, and if the hunter has not carefully observed the
spot where it FELL his iabour is often in yan.--Ihs
circumstance, however, is generally attended to,and
the opossum derives little benefit from his i,stlnc-
tive artifice.
After remaining in this apparently lileless .cons
dition for considerable time, or so long amy noise
indicative of danger can be heard, the oppossum
slowly unfolds himself; and creeping as closely as
possible upon the ground, would ian sneak of if UNI
perceived. Upon shout or cutlery in any tone from
his prosecutor he Immediately renews his death-liks
attitude, and stiffness. If then approached. move.
ed Or handled, he IS still seeming dead, and might
deceive any one not accustomed TO his actions. This
ieigning is repeated frequently opportunity is
allowed him of attempting to escape, and is known
so well to the country folks as to have long since
passed into provcrb. s. He is playing 'possum"
is applied with great readiness by them to any one
who is thought to act d.cefuy or wishes toappeas
what he is not.
The usual haunts Of the opposum are thick woods,
and their dens generally in the holows of de'
cayed trees, where they pass the day asleep and sals
y ly forth mostly after nightfall to seek for food
They are occasionally seen out during the day light,
especially when they have young ones OF eonsdera.
j Bile size too large to be carried in the maternal
pouch. The female then offers very singular aps
pealance, as she tolls along with twelve or sixteen
cubs nearly the size Of rats each with the turn Of his
= tail around the root of his mothers and cnging on
y er back and sides with paws, hands and moth.
This circumstance thought distinctive Of another
species, hence called the doslgere, bat it is equally
e true of the common Virginia oppossum 1t is exs
IT ceedingy curious the young, when the mother
is at rest, take refuge IN the pouch, when one or
~ two of them may occasionally be seen pecpng out,
~ with an air of great comfort and satisfaction The
mother in this condition. at any time in defence
Of her young. will make battle, biting with much
keeness and severity, for which her long canine
Oh teeth are well suited
N If taken young the opossum is readily tanned and
e. becomes very fond of humane society, in great de-
e, gree renuuishes its nocturnal habits and grows
ut troublesome from its familarity.-We have had one
OF thus tanned which would follow the inmates Of tho
is house with great assiduty, and complain by whia
ming noise when left alone. As it grew older it be-
id came mscheivous from its restless curiosity, and
there seemed possibility OF deyising any coDtrlt
ut vance efFectuallv to it. The same clrcuni-
of stance is frequently remarked by persons who have
nd attempted to detan them in captivity and Of all the
instances which have come to our knowledge where's
OF, even great number apparently well secured
they have all in short time enlarged themselvs and
been no more heard Of In such instances these
animals have escaped in the city. and for long time
have taken THERE in cellars, where therpre
ence has never suspected during the day they
led remained concealed. In this way it is probably
that many are still living in the city Philadelphia
ain obtaining plenty Of food by their nightly labours