The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-04-24
A YOUNG NATURALIST ON THE "POs-



SUM-
The oppossum inhabits all the South
ern States and few of the Northern
ones where the winter is not severe. 1t
inhabits Kansas-althOugh | don't see
why they should choose such dreary,
blizzardy State when there is plenty of
room for them in the South.
In the South hundreds of oppOssums
are hunted and eaten by negroes, but |
have never known white person to ad-
nit that he liked them, thsugh they are
hunted here very much by white people
for their fur which is somewhat valuable.
1t is now the largest wild animal found
in the settled portions of Kansas, in any
great number, although wolves are some
times found here. Their flesh is said to
taste very much like a roast pig. OPP
pOssums when they are fat and full
grown are about the size of six-weeks-
old pig. If a person will take the trouble
to tickle the sides of an oppossum he will
be well pleased with the experiment, for
the little fellow will actually grin and
smile as person would under the same
circumstances. | have tried this trick
and know that it is fun to watch the ami
NAL curl up his upper lip, etc. When
tanned they make CUTE pets.
An oppossum is queer looking ami
NAL OF course no other animal looks
exactly like it, but ''pOssum," as he is
called for short, has look that is en-
tirely its own. It's actions when walk
ing or climbing are like those of coon,
but in other respects it is entirely differ
ent although they both inhabit the same
countries.
1t is claimed that nature makes no mis-
takes. Although do not dispute this
| must acknowledge that the nearest
thing to a mistake is made in natures
provisions for the protection of an OPP
pOssum. 1t seems to me that instead of
having any chance at all of escape when
hotly pursued it has the best possible
chance of being captured by its enemies,
for you all know that instead of running
away or using its teeth or claws it simply
plays possum," which is done by roll
| ing itself up in a heap and pretending
that it is dead. This procedure may fool
a dog, but it wont fool man or boy.
| Therefore it is easily caught.
TO show how easily they are captured
| will relate an adventure that befell me
one day last fall while squirrel hunting
with two or three boys. We came upon
an Oppossum in the top of large tree
where he had been enjoying himself with
a meal of wild grapes, of which 'possums
are very fond. Deciding to capture this
one alive we began throwing clubs and
stones at it, and when at last it was hit,
although the stick barely touched it, it
came tumbling down to the ground. Of
course it was not hurt either by the stick
or the fall, as a pOssum seems to consist
mostly of hairs and fat, but to all ap-
pearances he was dead. As | know it
was not dead l picked it up by its tail to
carry it home. The reason | carried it
by its rat-like tail is because that was the
best way, as Oppossums are seen hang
ing from the limb of a tree by their tail,
eating berries, persimmOns, etc, and l
knew it would not harm him to be thus
carried. Well, this 'pOssum acted like
one dead and did not attempt to escape
at all until reached home, although |
had to walk two miles through high
weeds and bushes and knOwi was any
thing but pleasant for Mr. Oppossum. At
any time during the journey he might
have bitten my hand and secured his
liberty but he was too much intent on
playing 'pOssum' to bite me.
After had kept him for several days
| decided to give him his liberty. So
took him to the edge of the woods one
moonlight night and laid him down on
the ground. l knew he would not move
as long as l remained in sight so |
stepped behind tree to watch him. The
pOssum remained mOtiOnless for about
five minutes. and then thinking that no
one was in sight he slowly got up and
looking around ambled toward the CEN
ter of the woods. followed at a short
distance as noiselessly as could but the
little fellow heard me and what do you
suppose he did? He just rolled himself
up in ball and pretended that he was
dead. Ipicked him up and carried him
back to the edge of the woods and hid
once more. Again the 'pOssum refused
to move for some time, but finally he
thought the coast was clear and he start
ed off again. | followed him until he
discovered that was on his track when
he "keeled over once more. This oper
alton was repeated several times until
resolved to follow him no more. Wher
he got started on his last trip | noticed
that at every large tree he would stop tC
smell of it but he never once looked III
into the tree. until he came to one thai
smelled just right when up he went. IL
the moonlight he looked just like yer.
small fat bear. In going up the tree hi
was careful to keep the tree hetweel
himself and me all the time just as
squirrel would. | soon learned why th'
'possum smelled of every tree i'll hi
path. He was hunting for tree witt
signs of wild grapes nit When he go
to the top of the tree he sat down ant
watched me for while, when becam'
tired and left.-BeJdSt. Ne. journal.