94. THE OPOSSUMS. 



says he has reason to suspect it is comparatively rare 

 in Brazil. He has found the remains of birds in the 

 intestines of specimens dissected. 



NAKED-TAILED OPOSSUM. 



Didelphys nudicaudata. 

 PLATE II. 



Didelphys nudicaudata, Geoff. Collect, du Mus. 

 D. myosuros, Temminck. 



Description. Tail as long as the head and body 

 taken together, covered with scales, and furnished 

 with very minute interspersed hairs, from the base to 

 the apex ; woolly fur, like that of the body, is not 

 extended on to the base, as in most other Opossums, 

 or at most there is scarcely half an inch so covered. 

 General tint of the upper parts of the body yellowish 

 brown, slightly grizzled with whitish in parts ; sides 

 of the neck and body, and outer side of the limbs, 

 cinnamon coloured; the chin, throat, and the whole 

 of the under parts of the body, are of a yellowish 

 white nearly cream colour;, the upper surface of 

 the head and muzzle are of a brownish black tint, 

 above, and rather behind each eye, is a conspicuous 

 yellowish white or yellow spot, and behind each 

 ear is a pale rusty yellow spot; the cheeks are 

 yellowish white, the line of separation between this 

 pale colour, runs from the tip of the muzzle, on either 

 side, backwards a little below the eye ; beneath the 

 ear a rusty yellow tint is observable ; the hairs of the 



