CRAB-EATING OPOSSUM.—Philander canertvorus. 
The fur of the Crab-eating Opossum is long, and though rather woolly in texture, is 
harsh to the touch. From the peculiar colouring of the long hairs that protrude through 
the thick, close, woolly fur that lies next to the skin, the general tinting of its coat appears 
rather uncertain, and varies according to the portion which happens to be exposed to view 
at the time. These hairs are nearly white towards their base, but darken into sooty-black 
towards their extremities. The limbs and feet are black, and the head is a brownish- 
white. There is generally an indistinct dark line drawn over the forehead. The tail is 
covered with scales, interspersed with short hairs, and its basal half is black, the remainder 
being of a greyish-white. For the first three inches of its length it is densely clothed 
with sooty-black fur of the same tint as that upon the back, and the remainder of its 
length is covered with scales and short hair. 
The Crab-eating Opossum is peculiarly fitted for a residence on trees, a s never 
seen to proper advantage except when traversing the boughs, or swinging .~>ong the 
branches by means of its peculiarly prehensile tail. While it is engaged in . . arboreal 
wanderings, it always takes care to twine its tail firmly round the nearest object that is 
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