200 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY, 
America, is one of the fifty-two Mammals inhabiting the island — 
of ‘Trinidad. 
IJ, QUICA OPOSSUM. DIDELPHYS OPOSSUM. 
Didelphys opossum, Linn. Syst. Nat., ed. 12, vol. i., p. 55 
(1760) ; Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 329 (1888). 
Didelphys quica, Temminck, Monogr. Mamm., vol. i., p. 36 
(7327). 
Metachirus opossum, et M. quica, Burmeister, Erlaut. Faun. 
Brasil., pp. 69, 70 (1856). 
Characters— This species and the two following forms con- 
stitute the subgenus JZefachirus, of which the characters are 
as follows :— 
Size medium ; toes of hind feet with the same relative lengths 
as in the preceding species, that is to say with the three middle 
toes subequal, and considerably exceeding the outermost one 
in length; pouch either rudimentary or well-developed ; fur 
short and straight, without an admixture of bristles among 
the soft hairs. 
The present species may be distinguished from its two nearest 
allies as follows :— 
Size medium; fur short, straight, and somewhat crisp. 
General colour shining slaty-grey, of variable shades, but darker 
on the head, and lighter on the flanks than elsewhere ; under- 
parts yellowish, greyish, or white; face dark brown or black, 
with a pair of prominent white spots above the eyes, sometimes 
separated from another by a mere line. Muzzle long and 
slender ; upper lip with a single pair of lateral notches. Ears 
large, leaf-like, rounded, and very thin ; white at the base and 
black at the tip, with frequently a white spot on the head be- 
hind each of them. Pouch well-developed. Seven teats. Feet 
brown or brown and white; their pads large and rounded, 
those of the first toe on each foot being more or less distinctly 
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