The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-09-19
FROM DR.. GodHaan's Natural Historu.
THE OPOSSUM


, The hunting of the opossum is . f,vor;,
, sport with the country people, who freopentl
go out with their dogs at night, after the AZ
Lumnal frcsts have begun, and the Persimo
fruIt IS N its most delicious state. The onoe
) sum, as soon as he discovers the approach =
his enemies. lies perfectly close to the branch
or places himself snugly in the angle wher,
Two limbs separate from each other. Tn,
dogs, however, soon announce the fact of hi,
presence by baying, and the hunter ASCENDING
tue Tree discovers the branch upon which the
animal is seated, and begins to shake it with
great violence to alarm and cause him to relay
ms hold. This is soon effected, and the onos-
sum attempting to escape to another limb. is
pursued Immediately, and the shaking is re-
newed with greater violence, until at Iepoth
the terrified quadraped allows himself to dIon
TO the ground, where hunters or dogs are pre-
pared to despatch him.
Should the hunter, as frequently happens.
be unaccompanied by dogs, when the opossun,
tails to the ground, it does not Immediately
make ITS escape, but steals slowly and quietly
TO a little distance, and then gathering itself
INTO as small compass as possible, remains a.
sun as II dead. Should there be any quantity
OF grass or underwood near the tree, this appar-
emily simple artifee is frequently sufficient to
secure the animals escape, as it is difficult bv
moonlight or in the shadow of the tree to dis
tlngulsh 1t, and if the hunter has not carefully
observed the spot where it fell, his labor is Of
ten IN VAIN This circumstance, however, is
generally attended to, and the opossum derives
little benefit from his instructive art6ce.
Alter remaining in this apparent lifeless CON-
dItlon tor considerable time, or so long as
any noise indctive of danger can be heard, the
opossum slowly unfolds himself, and creeping
as closely as possible upon the ground, would
fam sneak off unperceived. Upon a shout or
outcry in any tone from his prosecutor, he
immediately renews his deathke attitude
and stiffness. If then approached moved or
handled he is still seemingly dead, and might
deceive any one not accustomed to his actions
This fegning is repeated frequently as op-
portunity is allowed him of attempting to es-
cape, and is known so well to the country folks
as TO have long since passed into a proverb
" He is playing 'possum" is applied with great
readiness by them to any one who is thought to
act deceittully, or wishes TO appear what he is
not.
The usual haunts of the opossum are thick
forests, and their dens are generally in hollow
or decayed trees, where they pass the day
asleep and sally forth most after night fall to
seek for food. They are occasionally seen out
during daylight, especially when they have
young ones of considerable size too large to be
carried in the maternal pouch The female
then oilers very singular appearance, as she
tolls along with twelve or sixteen cubs nearly
of the size of rats, each with the turn of his
tail round the root of its mothers and clinging
on her back and sides with paws, hand and
mouth. The circumstance was thought dis
tinctlVe of another species hence called the
d0rSigeTG, but it is equally true Of the common
| or Nirginian opossum 1t is exceedingly curl
rest, take refuge p6ocn; g iYeneao,is OF
two Of them may occasionally be seen peepng
out, with an air Of great comfort and satlsfac-
ton. The mother in this condition or at any
time in defence of her young, will make battle,
biting with much keenness and severity, for
which her long canine teeth are well suited
! If taken young, the opossum is readily tam
ed and becomes very fond of human society ; in
great degree relnquishes its nocturnal hab
! its, and grows troublesome from its familiarity.
! We have had one thus tanned which would fol-
! low the inmates Of the house with great ASST
duty, and complain BY whining noise when
left alone. AS it grew older it became mis-
chievous from its relentless curiosity, and there
seemed no possibility of devising any contriv-
ance effectually to secure it. The same cir
cumstance is frequently remarked by persons
who have attempted to detain them in captivi-
ty and of all the instances which have come
to our knowledge, where even great number
wore apparently well secured, they have all in a
short time enlarged themselves and been no
more heard Of In some such instances these
animals have escaped in the city, and for long
time taken up their quarters in cellars, where
their presence has never been suspected, as
during the day they remained concealed. In
this way it is very probable that many are still
living in The city of Philadelphia, obtaining
plenty flood by their nightly labors.
LII.