21 



NOTE IV. 



ON DIDELPHIS CAUDIVOLYULA KERR AND 

 DIDELPHIS VULPECULA KERR. 



Dr. P. A. JENTINK. 



Nov. 1884. 



Some montlis ago I was happy enough to procure for 

 our library the rare Animal Kingdom written by Kerr. 

 This author described clearly two Phalangers under the na- 

 mes New-Holland Opossum and Vulpine Opossum: these 

 descriptions have been overlooked by all the naturalists 

 who have studied the Phalanger-group. 



As the specimens of these two species are greatly va- 

 rying in color, and these varieties have been described as 

 species , I will try to give a synonymy as complete as 

 possible and to describe in short terms the individuals in 

 our collection in order to give the reader an impression 

 of the variation in color of the species in question. 



The species quoted belong to two distinct genera, cha- 

 racterized as follows: 



Pseudochirus : Phalangers with the two inner toes of 

 the fore foot separated from and partially opposable to , 

 the other three : the tail clothed , excepting at the apex 

 beneath , with short adpressed hairs. The ears short and 

 rounded (Waterhouse, Marsupiata. I. p. 297). 



Trichosurus : Tail densely clothed with fur , with the 

 exception of a part of the under surface, commencing at 



Notes from the Leyden ]Museum, Vol. VII. 



