DIDELPHIDID^. XVII. 86 



OEDEE F.-MAESUPIALIA. 



{The Marsupials.) 



FAMILY XVII. — DIDELPHIDID^. 



{The Opossums.) 



Marsupial mammals of small size, with the teeth i. J:J, 

 c. |:{, pm. |;|, m. J.|. 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, Linnaeus. Opossums. 



1. D. virginiana, Shaw. Common Opossum. Dirty 

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

 tains, rather southerly; common. 



