218 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 
Museum, but others are required in order to determine 
whether the pattern of colour is constant. 
XIX. HENSEL’S OPOSSUM. DIDELPHYS HENSELI. 
Didelphys henseli, Thomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, vol. i., 
p. 159, and Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 360 (1888). 
Characters.—While agreeing with the preceding members of 
the sub-genus in the absence of dark stripes on the back, this 
short-tailed Opossum is distinguished by its inferior size, and 
the presence of about twenty-five teats, of which five are cen- 
tral and the remainder arranged in lateral pairs. The ears are 
small; while in colour the back is grey and the flanks are red. 
The tail is about equal in length to the head and body, with its 
root alone furry, and the remainder scaly and nearly naked, its 
upper surface being brown, and the under sidered. Length of 
head and body of male about 44 inches; of tail 24 inches. 
Distribution Entre Rios and Rio Grande do Sul. From the 
number of teats it is probable that the female of this species 
gives birth to a large progeny, and it would be interesting to 
ascertain in what manner the young are carried about by 
such a diminutive creature. 
XX. SHREW-OPOSSUM. DIDELPHYS SOREX. 
Microdelphys sorex, Hensel, Abhandl. Akad. Berlin, 1872, p. 
122, 
Didelphys sorex, Thomas, Cat. Marsup. Brit. Mus., p. 362 
(1888). 
Characters—This species may be easily recognised by being 
the smallest representative of the sub-genus with a uniformly- 
coloured back. The ears are of medium size; and the general 
colour grey above and rufous on the flanks, the latter colour 
extending on to the cheeks and hips. Number of teats un- 
