CHIRONECTES. 3 



1. minimus (Latra, sic), Zimm., Geog. Gesch., n, 1780, p. 317. 



paraguensis and guianensis Kerr, Linn. Anim. King., 1792, pp. 



172, 174. 



memina Cuv., Tabl. El^m., 1798, p. 125. 

 sarcovienna Shaw, Gen. Zool., i, 1800, pt. n, p. 447. 

 variegatus Illig., Abh. Ak. Wiss., Berl., 1811, p. 107. 

 palmata Cuv., Regn. Anim., i, 1817, p. 174. 

 yapock Desm., Mamm., i, 1820, p. 261. 



FIG. I. CHIRONECTES MINIMUS. WATER OPOSSUM. 



WATER OPOSSUM, YAPOCK. Zarro de Aguain. Costa Rica; Tlacuazin 

 de Agua in Guatemala. 



Type locality. Guiana. 



Geogr. Distr. Guatemala south through Central America to 

 southern Brazil. 



Genl. Char. Size medium; ears large, rounded, metatragus very 

 small; tufts of facial bristles above eyes, on cheeks in front of ears, 

 and on the throat between jaws; whiskers on side of muzzle long; fur 

 thick, woolly. 



Color. Grayish white, mixed with light brown; band through eye 

 and crown blackish brown; grayish white crescentic band between 

 ears above the eyes; line from crown to base of tail, and transverse 

 lines over shoulders, middle of back, loins and rump, black; ground 

 hue between these slaty gray; chin, chest and belly white; outside of 

 arms and legs grayish, the inner side white; tail furred at base 

 only, remainder scaly, proximally black grading into yellowish at 

 the tip. 



