Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-25
is NOT APPRECIATED.
30 1T Is SAID OF THE AMERICAN
POssyM.
some Remarks Upon His Manners
and Customs by an Admirer Who
Regards His Intelligence ms unri-
vailed and Ha. studied Him.
philadelphia Times.)

Americans are very proud OF tneir coun-
try, and are given 70 much boasung
concerning its achievements and possi-
bnities, but many of them would have
pleaded guilty to sad lack OF knowledge
concerning--wel, say, the natural pro-
ducts of the land. The average citizen
win grow somewhat enthusiastic in the
presence of such foreign auadruped
as the elephant or lion, and regard with
Indifference a creature like the oDossum
that Is indigenous to the soil and can
doubly discount either Of the creatures
named In intelligence. 1t is doubtful II
there can be found in all animate crea-
ton another animal which can present
so many features that are interesting
quaint, and pleasing as the awkward
gated. gray marsupial known as the
Virginia opossum. The fact that IL Is
q native and to the manner born ought
not to detract from It's merit. It's lite
10 distinction Is unduestioned, because
in ali permutations and TRANSFORMATIONS
which other creatures around nave uh-
dergone In the last thousand OF Year,
changes so great as 10 make ~ ulihcui.
for the scientist to trace the Origins Oh
many Of them-the opossum mas reHlali-
ed persistent In its form ana structure
The progenitor Of this creature living IN
the paleolithic age was Identical with
its posterity which now find pleasure
In deyouring the esculent persimmon OF
the southern woods. To be sure. IL Is
deemed somewhat un-American TO BOAST
Of ones ancestry; yet surely IL Is per
Missile. in writing Of dumb creatures
at least, 10 refer with "A measure OIL
pride to their pedigree. Those who write
icientlncal upon the American and
English race horses are not as certain
as they would have their readers be-
ieye when they affect 10 md the orsi-
ial Of the thoroughbred.
Mr. Darwin was very certain that our
common tomcat may be traced to the
Egyptlan feline, mummifled corpses OF
which are so common In the tombs OF
ne Nile country Yet so eminent an au-
thority as he famed TO impress his con-
yictions upon all his scientific readers
Never has there been man VINO mas
been able to his entire satisfaction TO
follow the faithful dog to its origin
There Is no trouble on this score win
,hs opossum. In its persistence to type
Il has laughed at and defed all the at
lacks of variation. Evolution has had no
charm for IL. CCnifers have given way
10 primitive trees: simplest OF flowers
nave developed into gorgeous blossoms OF
beauty; harmless and herbivorous mar
euplals have been transmurif1ed INTO
ravening wolves predaceous cats, or
growing bears, casting Off their poucnes
and becoming higher-typed mammals. The
opossum observed these various changes
and developments with manifest uncon-
Germ opposing its intelligence 10 the
ferocity that developed with change OF
cell-structure in the creatures about II.
After nearly half century Of study
Of the creatures Of the field and wood
\ Ctfil Of the mind
that impressed me a quarter of century
ago. that, the dog and horse excepted
The opossum is the most intelligent brute
upon the face OF the earth.
IN THE DISMAL SWAMP.
Once while l was botanizing in the
Dismal Swamp of Virginia i was attract
I'd by the sharp barking OF dog,
and suspecting the cause approached
cautiously 10 the spot whence the Sound
proceeded. Careful. lest / break twig
or rustic a leaf, / moved slowly along
until before me, not many feet away, was
weary and somewhat disgusted-look'
Ing cur that was springing In the air at
intervals and vainy attempting to reach
a cute-looking 'possum, which had tam
talizngly ensconced itself about six inches
above the possibility of reach of the jaws
of the canine. Presenting myself 10 view.
almost instantly the 'possum betook
himself to the remotest branch of the
lofty, tree, where. hiding in the thickest
cluster OF leaves. II held on with might
and main by claw and prehensile tail.
The intelligence of the creature had dis
cerned In the first place, that the dog
had no master with it. and. conscious of
its safety, had taken bit of old-fash-
Toned fun out of it's would-be tormentor.
I'm the more than thousand and one hunts
OF the opossum In which / have parti-
cipated i never knew an instance in
which 1t failed to display high intelligence
in finding places-through any hol-
low and tree and away--neeing TO the lat
ter and invariably going out to the very
top and the most remote branch. This
ability to discern between the presence
OF hunter with his dog and the dog
alone is in itself an evidence of a no mean
order OF reason, especially when II Is
remembered that many hunters OF the
opossum train their dogs to pursue IL
without the encouragement Of the voice.
Ii is commonly known In the opossum
countries that the creature has very little
fear of the dog, and manifestly finds plea
sure in teasing and tormenting II,
easily getting beyond its reach. and tan
TALKING the canine until the latter be-
seomes faint with hunger and fatigue.
1t should be explained that the meat
of the opossum is juicy rich, highly pala-
table and an object Of almost universal
desire by the negroes and poor whites OF
the South. who pursue the creature un-
remittingly during the winter months,
at which time only II is in condition to
be edible. Because II is an omniverous
animal. eating all kinds OF Objectionable
as well as pleasing foodstuffs, II IS
deemed necessary by the hunter that 1t
shall be captured alive and subjected to
a cleansing and additional fattening. per-
haps, before IL is served as food. Hence
Il is that the hunter almost invariably
climbs the tree with the object OF shaking
the opossusn out into the receptive arms
OF a man beneath. l can testify from
numerous experiences that the opossum
excels the monkey even in its tenacity
OF hold upon the branch OF a tree. Its
very prehensile and nearly hairless tail
and its excellent thumb set well opposite
10 four additional clinging digts. give II
power that will call into exercise the
best efforts Of strong man to dislodge IT,
NOCTURNAL HABITS.
The creature is nocturnal in its habits.
waiting for the cover Of the darkness 10
sally forth in quest of food. the quality
OF which In no wise concerns IL. If il be
unacquanted with the dweling-place of
a toothsome squirrel or the nest OF a
mocking-bird full OF fresh-laid eggs II
Will just as contentedly burrow for an
esculent root or gather berries from
friendly bushes From immemorial time
II has affected the persimmon-tree, to
the propagation of which IL has lent its
best energies, and unquestionably but
for the kind offices of this prudential
creature the persmmon would have
ceased TO exist In the land. The habitat