DIDELPHIDID^E. XVH. 36 



OEDEE F.-MAESUPTATJA. 



(The Marsupials.) 



FAMILY XVIL DIDELPHIDID^E. 



(TTie Opossums.) 



Marsupial mammals of small size, with the teeth i. ;, 

 c. -J-, pm. f:f, m. |-. Feet five -toed, plantigrade*, claws 

 5-4. Tail usually very long, nearly naked, covered by a 

 scaly skin, with a few scattered hairs, prehensile. All 

 the species are American. 



/. DIDELPHYS, Linnasus. OPOSSUMS. 



1. D. virg iniana, Shaw. COMMON OPOSSUM. Dirty 

 white; legs dark; L. 35; T. 14. N. Y. to Rocky Moun- 

 tains, rather southerly; common. 



