﻿THE OPOSSUMS. 193 



directly, and, as soon as it had got a fair start, it progressed 

 with great rapidity." 



What becomes of the Ur-quamata during the cold season, 

 when, according to native reports, it is no more seen above 

 ground, has not yet been ascertained. From the circumstance 

 that during a slight frost two specimens kept in a box of sand 

 died, it may, however, be inferred that during the winter these 

 little creatures must burrow to such a depth in the sand as to 

 be beyond the reach of the slight frosts met with in the 

 districts they inhabit, and that in such burrows they undergo a 

 more or less complete hibernation. No sort of information 

 has hitherto been ascertained as to the breeding habits of these 

 little creatures, a young one not even having been seen. 



It may be added, in conclusion, that there is no sort of sup- 

 port to the suggestion that the Marsupial Mole forms a con- 

 necting link between the Marsupials and the egg-laying 

 Mammals. Among the former it is believed by Dr. Gadow to 

 be more nearly related to the Opossums than to either of the 

 other Australian families of Polyprotodonts. 



THE OPOSSUMS. FAMILY DIDELPHYID^. 



With the Marsupial Mole we take leave of the Australian 

 representatives of the order, and come to the single American 

 family, which includes the whole of the remaining forms now 

 living. Possessing the characters already given as distinctive of 

 the Polyprotodont sub-division of the order, the Opossums 

 may be characterised as a family as follows : — 



Five pairs of upper, and three of lower incisor teeth. Hind 

 feet with the four outer toes subequal and detached, and a 

 well-developed, although clawless, inner toe, or hallux, which 

 can be opposed to the other four. Tail generally very long, 

 naked, scaly, and prehensile, but occasionally short and more 

 or less hairy. Stomach simple ; intestine with a small or 



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