JUNE, igoi. MAMMALS FROM N. C. , S. C. , GA. AND FLA. ELLIOT. 



33 



sent the averages: Total length, 772.33 mm.; tail vertebrae, 

 316.5; hind foot, 66.6; among these were two tails only 255 and 

 270 mm. in length. Mr. Bangs' twelve specimens of pigra (1. c.) 

 average, total length 809.1; tail vertebrae, 343.6; hind foot, 62. 

 The animals, it will be observed, average considerably larger 

 than those of virginiana from Dr. Allen, and their tails possess 

 no greater length than their larger size requires to be in harmony. 

 The foot average is 66.6 for the typical form, and 62 for those 

 of Mr. Bangs' examples from Florida and Georgia, but Mr. 

 Surber's six specimens give an average foot measurement of 71. 

 Mr. Bangs' first six specimens give an average foot measurement 

 of 68.1, and the first six of Dr. Allen's 65.5. It does not seem 

 therefore, from these figures that the average measurements of 

 the Florida opossum is smaller than the northern form. But it 

 would not be safe to depend upon a length of tail for specific 

 distinction, when that varies from 287 to 402. Size as a 

 character can never be depended upon. 



The following tables show the measurements of Dr. Allen's 

 and' Mr. Bangs' specimens. 



DIDELPHYS VIRGINIANA. 



