DIDELPHIDID.-E. XVII. 35 



OBDEE F.-MAESUPIALIA. 



(The Marsupials.) 



FAMILY XVII. DIDELPHIDID^E. 



(The Opossums.) 



Marsupial mammals of small size, with the teeth i. {- :, 

 c. |:|, pm. }:|, m. f f. Feet five -toed, plantigrade, claws 

 5-4. Tail usually very long, nearly naked, covered by a 

 scaly skin, with a few scattered hairs, prehensile. All 

 the species are American. 



/. DIDELPHYS, Linnaeus. OPOSSUMS. 



1. D. virg iniana, Shaw. COMMON OPOSSUM. Dirty 

 white; legs dark; L. 35; T. 14. N. Y. to Rocky Moun 

 tains, rather southerly; common. 



