250 M E M O I R S 0/ the 
The njijJeLlion of an Opoffum 5 by 2)r. Tyfon. Phil. Tranf^ 
N"" 239. p. 105. 
THIS animal, which was brought alive from Virginia^ 
has many names given it by different authors, and generally 
by the Englip it is called Opofftm^ or 'Poffum 3 in Larin it is 
named, Sem-vulfes^ and Vulpi-Jimia^ as if it were of a middle 
nature, between a fox and an ape ; but Dr. Tyfon is of opinion, 
that a denomination might be beft given it, from that particular, 
wherein it is mod diilinguifhable from all other animals, which 
is that remarkable Mar f upturn^ or pouch, it has in its bcHy, 
into which, upon any occafion of danger, it can receive its 
young; whence it may properly be denominated, Mar flip ale 
Americanum ; and Dr. ^lyfon thinks it may be reduced to the 
vermin-kind : It meafured from the extremity of the nole to the 
tip of the tail, thirty one inches 5 the length of the head was fix- 
inches, the tail was a foot in length, the compafs of the body 
was fifteen inches and a half when dead 5 when alive and well 
it feemed much thicker 3 the fore-legs were fix inches long, the 
hinder-legs only four inches and a half; the compafs of tlie tail, 
near the root, was three inches, near the tip, only one inch; 
i^bout the cars the head was largeft, mealuring on the forehead 
from one ear to the other, three inches ; thence gradually taper- 
ing towards the nole, and more refembling that of a pig, than a 
fox ; the apertures of the eye-lids were not horizontal, but lying 
in a ftreight line from the eyes to the nofe, and but fmall ; the 
ears were about an inch and a half long, not iharp, but of a 
roundi/li figure ; the KiEiui of the mouth, from one corner to the 
extremity of the nofe, meafured two inches and a half; the fore- 
feet had five long claws or fingers, equally ranged with each 
other, and a hooked nail at the end of each finger; the hinder 
{^zt had four fingers armed with hooked nails, and a perfe(^t 
thumb, fct oif at a diftance from the range of the other fingers, 
and as in a human body, this thumb was Hiorter than the other 
fingers, and had not a hooked prominent nail, but a tender flat 
one ; this contrivance of the legs, feet, and nails feem very advan- 
tageous to this animal in climbing up trees, which it does very 
nimbly in quell of birds, a prey it is very fond of, tho' it alio 
feeds on other things; thcle fingers, toes, and claws were nakedj 
and without hair, the fkin here fliewing of a reddilh colour; 
ihcy wtre about an inch long, and the thumbs were almoft of 
the fame length ; the palms, efpccially if dilated, which it does 
m climbing, wcie large, but lb contrived, as to be capable of 
coiv- 
