The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
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THE HAIRY ARAADILI,o.

the 'possum, should thrive in the same locality.
In regions where there rever was q tree, and
never will be one naturally, the postum, with
Its prehensile tail dragging uselessly behind II,
lives as comfortably, and makes just as good a
roast. as ever 1t did where the pawpaws grow.
That 1t has lived thus for ages on the tree
less mesa no one need doubt: but when by
chance one Is transported from the plain TO A
region OF trees, to the valley OF the Rio Negro,
for instance, the old tree-climbing instinct is
found as strong as ever. A mother 'possum that
had ten young ones as large as rats, was once
taken from her nest TO a plantation with trees,
and straightway. without any hesitation, she
climbed nimbly up, carrying her family with
her in the usual acknowledging all over her
back and sides. Nor had the use of her tail
been forgotten.
SO much for the ordinary 'possum. There Is
another sort found that is no doubt Indigenous,
and 1t Is OF a kind to make the eyes of a colored
brother bulge with astonishment, for II is at
maturity tho size OF a small meadow mole.
There are bushes on the desert large enough TO
serve these little fellows as trees, and they are,
therefore, able TO follow their instructive desire
to climb and hang head down by the tail. but
the spectacle Of one OF the little 'possum mothers
climbing about a desert bush with her tiny
young clinging to her, or lying on the ground as
II dead, 'possum fashion, is one of the most in
terestings sights in nature.
Another animal, that Is at least 10 one respect
allied 10 the 'possum Is the coypu. IL might,
perhaps, be called an aquatic 'poSsum because
Of its hairless tail and its habit OF carrying
its young on its back. Tho naturalists, how
ever. say 1t is more like the beaver than any
other North American beast, and II certainly
has a remarkably beautiful pelage. Its flesh
is very good TO eat, but II is chiefly hunted for
the fur. The feature OF this animal, however,
fhaf nj nnra attrocts tho attention. 90 n...
is the location OF the nipples OF the mother on
her back instead OF on her breast and belly, as in
ordinary mammals. When seen swimming
about with her young on her back. as is her GUS
tum, the nipples are found above the water lin.
extending in a row from shoulder TO hip. where
the young can nurse as they are carried along.
OF the weasels. one kind is described as much
larger than those in the United States. They
travel in packs like wolves when hunting. and
are said to have the most malignant and devel-
ish faces of any beast OF the desert. All birds
and rodents that get within their grasp are torn
to pieces in savage fashion.
Along the Andes many Virginia deer are
found, but IL. is only near the forests. They
emit a rank OdOr from the leg glands that is
said to be fatal TO the desert snakes. The gray
fox fourishes everywhere and grows 20 a rather
larger size than in the United States, but he is
remarkable for being very short-winded. Al
least, he Is easily tired out. A race OF a few hun
dred yards with a desert horse uses him up,
and he falls a victim 10 the well-nigh unerring
bolas OF the plainsmen. lie Is not often killed
by the Indians, for he is not Mt TO eat, but the
shepherds slay him at sight because of the num-
Der of lambs he kills In the season.
Then there Is the skunk, a counterpart in all
respects OF the skunk of the States. .Skunks are
very numerous in all parts, and often serve the
Indians as food when larger game fails. II is an
interesting fact, too, that the Indians capture
them when young and make pets OF them. There
is rarely a collection of wigwams on the desert
without a couple of tame skunks playing about.
The skunks whea tame Seem perfectly harm
less and in all respects inOhenslys. The gauchos
/ met when told that a skuRk's bite Is supposed
In parts OF the United States TO cause a malady
akin TO hydrophubia were incredulOus. They
had never heard Of such a thing.
Any reference to the animals Of Patagonia
that omitted the hairy Rrmadillo would be
noticeably defective. IL IS an animal with
habits that must interest an amateur naturalist
greatly. There are two forms Of the RTnadiIlo.
Roughly speaking one Is like a hairy guinea pig
with a pointed turtle shell over is back and
head. while the Other Is 1870 a thick turtle with
out any breastplatc. The former is very rare
even in its haunts on the Andes. The latter Is
everywhere abundant. As described by all who
have seen il. the latter will eat and get fat
very fat-OR anything from grass roots TO de-
eayed nah or cattle, from an ant 10 a poisonous
SsTDenL from strawberries 70 rats and mice.