The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-11
THE Op0SSUM.
One of the Most Curious Animals in the
United States.

AIaICc' IL ID lHC UuIy Ouc CdIIyluS
its young in pouch or marsupium,
like kangaroo. 1t is the only ami
NAL which can feign death perfectly
in order to escape its enemies, and
the expression "playing possum" is
a well-known phrase. 1t is also re-
markablc in that it hangs by it's tail
like monkey. Its hands resemble
those of human being. 1t is most
literally provided with teeth, and has
a snout like that Of hog, eyes like
those of rat, AID Kisses like snake.
Mr.. Edward Decker, au agricultural
ist residing near Columbus, Ohio,
caught female opossum last spring,
and discovered that his captive had in
her pouch an interesting family of
twelve little ones. His dog had been
Investigating rail pile, and suddenly
raised a tremendous outcry. Mr..
Decker found the dog worrying the
old opossuLo and delivered her from
the jaws Of death, but not until afyer
she had been severely bitten. He
dressed her wounds, took good care Of
her and succeeded in raising to matur-
ity every one of the twelve young ones.
When first discovered, the baby
opossums were about two inches long,
hairless and sightless.
The dozen grew slowly at first, their
progress being retarded by the injured
condition of the mother. 1t was
several weeks before the boldest of
them, having had his eyes unsealed,
timidly poked his white snout through
the opening of the pouch and recon
noitered. By and by he ventured to
crawl outside and hung by the long
fur of the mother. Soon another and
another followed the leader on o tour
Of inspection. After that the twelve
came out daily, but were exceedingly
timid, scuttling back nto the pouch at
the slightest noise or the approach of
any person.
One Of the twelve managed to es-
cape from the old corncrib where they
were confined and was gone for ten
days. Upon his return he was i'm
mediately set upon by his brothers
and sisters as renegade, and had his
large, fan-like ears bitten off close to
his head.
The method Of feeding the mother
consisted. at first of throwing ia a
pigeon, and later fowl from the barn
yard. The young opossums used to
have fierce fights over their nocturnal
meals, and in one of these wrangles
one of their number lost her ear, after
the style of punishment visited on the
renegade. This seemed to be the vul-
nerable point Of attack in pos
sum fight.
When they had attained the size of
rats the young bore remarkable re-
semblance to these rodents, and when
all climbed upon their mother, cling
ing to her hair, neck and legs, she
staggered under the load. No other
mother among the animals of North
America bears. such burden, and her
patience and tranquility under her
manifold cares were admirable. The
photographer who succeeded in tax
ing the half dozen fine views Of moth
er and family has given an insight
into the domestic arrangements of the
opossum, although far from uncom-
mon in the United States, seems to
be little understood. Owing to the
nocturnal habits, comparatively few
people have ever seen female with
her young.
The writer obtained from Mr.. Deck
er four of the young opotsams when
they were about one-fourth grown,
and he made q close study of their
habits.
The opossum is known to natural
lists as being one of the most innooont
and harmless of animals. In its wild
stat". when attacked by a man or dog,
it Immediately falls over as if dead,
and no amount Of beating OF physical
torture can make it cease "playing
possum." There is only one way in
which the animal can be made 20 re-
sumo the semblanoe Of life, and that
is by throwing it into water. A cold
bath will instantly cause it to cease
feigniug death and swim for life.
1n its habits this queer animal is
a veri,ablc sloth. The two things it
likes best to do arc to eat and sleep.
1t cats with great gusto and carni-
vorous "nd omnivorous appetite. So
eager were they to snap up big