Page:General Zoology vol. 1 pt. 2.djvu/321

 sufficient growth and strength, they emerge, after which they occasionally take refuge in the same receptable on the appearance of any danger, and are carried about by the parent. This is the practice with most of the Opossum tribe; but there are two species which have no ventral pouch for the reception of their young, but a kind of depression or furrow in its stead.

When important into Europe (at least into our own island), the Opossums have never been known to breed; the late Mr. John Hunter having frequently procured several for this purpose, but could by no means succeed in his endeavours to ascertain the particulars of their history in this respect. The Kanguroo, however, which is an example of a similar contrivance of Nature, has afforded opportunities of illustrating the subject more satisfactorily.

The Virginian Opossum, like all the other American species, is a carnivorous animal, and preys on poultry, small birds, &c. in the manner of the European Polecat: it is also frugivorous, eating several kinds of roots, fruits, &c. It is of a gentle disposition, and may easily be tamed; but, like some other species, it has a disagreeable smell: its voice is a sort of grunting squeak: its pace in running is not swift, but it is very expert in climbing trees, and readily passes, by means of its clinging tail, from bough to bough, in the manner of a Monkey. The female produces four or five at a birth, and has the power of