DIDELPHYS ELEGANS. 107 



observable; the lower part of the cheeks^ throat, 

 under parts of the body and feet, are white, with an 

 indistinct yellowish tint ; the eyes are encircled with 

 brownish black, which tint is extended forwards on 

 the sides of the muzzle ; the upper surface of the 

 muzzle and the inter- orbital space is pale. The tail 

 is furnished throughout v/ith minute decumbent hairs, 

 excepting a small naked space at the tip beneath, of 

 about one line in length ; on the upper surface they 

 are brown, and on the under they are whitish. The 

 fur of the upper and under parts of the body is deep 

 grey at the bas-e ; on the lower part of the cheeks, 

 chin, and on the mesial line of the throat and chest, 

 the hairs are uniform — not grey at the base. The 

 ears are naked and of a brown colour. 



Observations, — The specimens, from which the 

 above description is taken, were brought by Mr. 

 Darwin from Valparaiso. Mr. Darwin states, that 

 they " frequent thickets growing on the rocky hills 

 near Valparaiso. They are exceedingly numerous, 

 and are easily caught in traps, baited either with 

 cheese or meat. The tail appeared to be scarcely 

 at all used as a prehensile organ ; they are able to 

 run up trees with some degree of facility. I could 

 distinguish in their stomachs the larvae of beetles." 



THREE-STRIPED OPOSSUM. 



Didelphys tristriata. 



Plate III.' 



Didelphys tristriata, Fischer, Synopsis Mammalium, p. 269. 



Description. — Size a little larger than the common 



