OPOSSUM, Didelphis, a genus of marsupiata, having ten cutting teeth in the upper jaw and eight in the lower, one canine tooth on each side in each jaw, three compressed premolars. and four sharply tuberculated molars on each side-50 teeth in all; the tongue bristly; the tail long, prehensile, and in part scaly; the feet plantigrade; five toes on each foot, their claws long and sharp; but the inner toe of the right foot converted into a thumb, destitute of a claw, and opposable to the other digits; the muzzle long and pointed, the mouth very wide, the ears large and destitute of hair. The unwebbed feet and non-aquatic habits distinguish this genus from cheironeetes (q.v.), also belonging to the family didelphift Bnt the genus didelphis itself is divided by some naturalists into several genera; and there are differences not unimportant, particularly in the well developed pouch of some species, and the merely rudimentary pouch or abdominal folds of others. All the existing species are American, but fossil species are found in other parts of the world. The opossums were the first marsupial animals known, and are noticed as very wonderful creatures by some of the earliest writers on America. Some of the smaller species much resemble rats and mice, except in their long and pointed muzzle; others greatly resemble shrews; the largest known species are scarcely equal in size to a large eat. It is in some of the smaller species that the pouch is rudimentary; all the larger species have a well-developed pouch in which the young are carried, and to which, even after beginning to venture forth from it, they retreat on the approach of danger. The young of the species which have a merely rudimentary pouch, also remain attached to the nipple of the mother for a time; and afterwards for a time are carried on her hack, intwining their prehensile tails with hers, and clinging to the fur of her back.—The VIRGEcIAN OPOSSUM (D. Virginutna) is one of the largest species. It abounds in the warmer parts of North America. and its range extends considerably to the n. of Virginia. Its form is robust, its head very large, its color dull white; its fur
long, fine, and woolly, thickly interspersed with longer coarse white hairs, except on the head and seine of the upper parts, where the hair is short and close. The tail is not quite so long as the body. The Virginian opossum lives much in forests and among the branches of trees, to which it usually retreats to devour its prey, twining its tail around a branch for security. Its food consists of small quadrupeds and reptiles, birds' eggs, and insects; also in part of fruits and the juicy stalks of plants. It often visits poultry yards. and displays much cunning in its stealthy quest of prey; although otherwise it seems, like the other marsupiata, to be very low iu the scale of intelligence. It seeks to escape from enemies by running to the woods and ascending a tree; but if escape is impossible, it feigns death, and maintains the imposture in very trying circumstances, however it may be kicked and beaten; but the true state of the case may be ascertained by throwing it into water. The American word 'possumi»g makes a figurative applica tion of this part of the natural history of the opossum. The female sometimes produces 16 young at a birth; the young when born are blind, naked, and shapeless, and weigh scarcely more than a grain each; they do not begin to leave the pouch until they have attained about the size of a mouse. The female opossum shows a very strong attach ment to her young. The opossum is very easily tamed, but its strong odor makes it au unpleasant pet. The flesh of the opossum is said to be good. The hair is woven into garters and girdles by the Indian women.—Other species of opossum are found in the more southern parts of America. Of these one of the largest is the CRAB-EATING OPOSSUM (D. canc•ivom) of Guiana and Brazil, which is nearly as large as the Virginian opossum, lives chiefly in marshy places, and feeds much on crabs. The smaller species are numerous in the tropical parts of America.—The name opossum is often given in Australia to the phalangers