Kevin Yerv, age 13, of Lewisville, North Carolina, for his question:

Is there really an animal called a cuscus?

Yes indeed there is an animal called a cuscus, though you would have to travel half way around the globe to visit at his home. He is related to the opossum who lives right here in our woods. Actually, the cuscus is an opossum and he lives where most of the world's opossums are at home. His native home may be Australia or one of the islands near by.

The cuscus is somewhat larger than his cousins and you might mistake him for a monkey. After all, he lives in trees and hangs by his long tail. His thick fur coat may be grey or spotted with black or yellow. He has chubby cheeks, big round eyes and his tiny ears are almost lost in his fur. The cuscus is a lazy fellow who sleeps through the day. He never hurries, even. after dark when he wanders off to find some of his favorite leaves for dinner.