OPOSSUMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21384, 11 July 1931, Page 9

OPOSSUMS

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —“ Btishie ” will find the statement by a correspondent of Mr G. M, Thomson, M.L.C., set out on page 32. of the latter’s monumental work, “The Naturalisation of Animal:)' and Plants in New Zealand.” Mr Thomson did not disown the statement but only the authoriship of it. “ Bushie’4: ” suggestion to liberate opossums in beech (not “birch ”) forest has more to recommend it than the idea-of liberation ;5n all mixed taxad forest as well. It ,is the berry-producing forest which provides a home for the majority of our ousfc birds. Then, your correspondent asks information as to tjbe life-history of the opossum The young are born in the same manner as other mammals, but are not so fully developed, being less than an inch long, blind, and naked. The mother takes the young one and places it in her pouch, in which are situated the mammal or teats Somehow she manages to get the youngster’s mouth over a teat, which then expands a little and gives the baby a grip. But although the mouth is suited for holding on, fit cannot suck. So the mother has to force the milk into the mouth by the contraction of a special muscle. It seems that,'when very young, the baby cannot let go even if it so desired. If pulled off, fihe mouth is torn, and bushmen then declare that the young “are horn on the teat.” —I am, etc., Dunedin, July 10. Phalange.