60 
limbs naked, and of a brownish flesh-colour. All the upper parts 
dark grey, almost black ; the hairs short, shining, and adpressed. 
Basal third of the tail of the same colour, and similarly clothed with 
fine hairs ; terminal two-thirds pale flesh-coloured, dusted with ex- 
ceedingly fine white hairs, scarcely visible without the aid of a lens. 
Ears darkish flesh-colour, with both their surfaces well clothed with 
short and fine hairs of a silvery-grey colour. Nails white. 
= 
= 
s 
Length of the head and body, about ...... 3 6 
ofthe tail; about 2). Voie Se ee 93 9G 
GLtne HEAL Pe. dak Ses ets eas ud Sap 
Hab. Gualaquiza. Collected by Mr. Fraser, Dec. 1857. 
Obs.—This species was first described by Mr. Waterhouse in his 
excellent work on ‘ Mammalia’*, but without a name, and was com- 
pared with D. cinerea, from which it was observed to differ in having 
the hairy portion of the tail of much less extent, in having longer 
fur, and in being itself considerably smaller. The specimen examined 
was a male, and included in that section of Opossums characterized 
by a pouch “rudimentary, or entirely wanting ;” but the female 
obtained by Mr. Fraser (evidently of the same species) unquestion- 
ably possessed a complete pouch, as might be seen from an examina- 
tion of the skin preserved in spirit; and Mr. Fraser’s note accom- 
panying the specimen informs us that there were “five young in her 
pouch, each 3 inches long.” 
This effectually disposes of the question as to its distinctness from 
D. cinerea, and in fact removes it to the other section. 
To D. noctivaga, Tschudi, it bears some resemblance, in which 
species, as in D. waterhousii, the fur on the base of the tail is of ex- 
ceedingly limited extent, and both agree in having rather long fur, 
although of a different colour. But D. noctivaga is the larger species 
of the two, and is quite differently proportioned. Its muzzle is a 
great deal longer than that of D. waterhousii, and the ears are much 
larger. Moreover the female is destitute of a pouch, and has in its 
stead “abdominal folds of the integuments.”” The eyes too, accord- 
ing to Dr. Tschudi’s figure and Mr. Fraser’s note, are of a different 
colour 
Mr. Fraser’s note in full is as follows :—‘‘? had five young in 
her pouch, each 3 inches long. Nose, chin, and latter half of the 
tail flesh-colour, ears black. Stomach contained bones of a small 
mammal, hair, and a pulp containing a vegetable substance. Eyes 
black. Xivaro name ‘ Juichma.’”’ 
I have named this animal after its original describer, as a tribute 
to a zoologist who has in such an eminent degree extended our know- 
ledge in this branch of natural history. 
It is alluded to, but not described, in my list of Mr. Fraser’s Mam- 
mals, given in last year’s ‘ Proceedings’ (p. 548). 
* vol. i. p. 505. 
