Opossum Taking Refuge under Water

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Abstract
J. Kenneth Doutt reported recently (Jour. Mamm., 35:581–583, 1954) on his observations of the swimming ability and behavior of the Virginia opossum, Didelphis marsupialis virginiana, in a tank and when placed in a pond. Both opossums that he placed in a tank of water dived beneath the surface at once and swam a few feet under water before surfacing. The animals' ease at swimming and readiness to dive, apparently in seeking escape, led Mr. Doutt to speculate that it may do this naturally in the field to escape its predators. The following incident transcribed from my field notes of the behavior of a free, wild opossum of this same form may be taken to substantiate Mr. Doutt's supposition.

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