OPOSSUM

Picture an animal about the size of a house cat, with a long slender snout, tail like a monkey, and a pouch for transporting her young like a kangaroo - and you have the opossum. An ex­ponent of the doctrine of non-resistance, the opos­sum is famous for "playing ‘possum" or feigning death when attacked.

She likes children, giving birth to five to fourteen at a time. They weigh hardly more than two grains and don't see the light of day for seven weeks. When they outgrow her pouch the mother swings them on her back, converting her tail into a railing from which the young cling by their tails. At night this monkey-like tail comes in handy again. On it the whole family swings itself to sleep.

The Australian opossum differs considerably from the American species. The American variety has a head like a rat - the Australian opossum resem­bles somewhat a fox with long pointed ears. The tail of the Australian type is partly Furred as com­pared to the long, scaly American opossum's tail. The Fur of the native opossum is rather coarse, with thick under Fur of a gray and yellow-brown cast. It is hunted from northern Canada to the Gulf. The Australian variety is more silky, and colored a deep blue-gray. To distinguish between the two, the Australian opossum has been more correctly termed "phalanger," for it really isn't an opossum at all. Australia Furnishes about three quarters of the world's supply of opossum pelts. All opossum wears well, but the smoother Fur lasts longest. Australian ringtail opossum has short, soft Fur which gives moderate service.