344 Information respecting Zoological Travellers. 



me for description "was shot in the neighbourhood of Georgetown, 

 but as it was the only one of its kind which I ever saw, I hesitate 

 to establish it as a separate species, until I have had opportunity of 

 procuring individuals of the same appearance. It is said to be very 

 common at the coast region, and is called the white Yawarri by the 

 colonists, Nopu by the Warrau Indians, Yawarri by the Arawaks and 

 Macusis. It does great injury to the feathered stock, and frequents 

 the sugar-cane fields, being apparently partial to sweets. 



The black Yawarri (Didelphis quica, Temm.), called so by the co- 

 lonists from its appearance when at rest ; the hair being long and 

 black at the tip, but yellow towards the root. The tail is longer 

 than the body, clothed with hair for one-fourth of its length, the re- 

 mainder naked and scaly. Its size is that of a marten, but in its 

 head it resembles a fox, and the muzzle ends with a whitish spot. I 

 do not possess an actual measurement, but I should estimate the 

 length of its body about twelve or thirteen inches, and the tail from 

 fifteen to sixteen inches. The latter, which is prehensile, is of great 

 assistance to them in climbing. They are very destructive to poultry 

 and likewise to fruit. They are often found on those savannahs 

 where the wild pine (Bromelia, spec?) flourishes, to the fruit of which 

 they appear to be partial. Like its congeners, the female possesses 

 a pouch in which she carries and suckles her young until they are 

 as large as half-grown rats. They produce from six to seven young 

 at a time. They sleep during the day and hunt at night. They are 

 sometimes eaten by the Creoles and Indians, but as they have a 

 rank and disagreeable smell I doubt if they would prove palatable 

 to us. 



The Didelphis cancrivora is too well known to deserve more 

 than a passing remark ; moreover, I am not able to add anything 

 about its habits, as it is more peculiar to the sea-coasts than to the 

 interior of Guiana. 



The Yawarri cusinai of the Macusi Indians, or Picanappa of the 

 Warraus {Didelphis philander, Temm.) has an extensive range in 

 Guiana. It is met with in the coast regions as well as in the interior. 

 It resembles in size a full-grown rat ; the fur, short and silky, is of 

 a rust-colour, lighter beneath the belly ; length of the body nine 

 inches, tail ten inches and a half, clothed with fur for about two 

 inches, the remainder naked and of a uniform brown colour. A 

 deep furrow divides the nostrils, and the eyes are brown and very 

 prominent, and surrounded by a reddish spot. Possessing all the 

 peculiarities of its tribe, it appears to be more lively than the rest, and 

 climbs with the alacrity of a squirrel. Although I have seen many 



