DIDELPHYS BRACHYURA. Ill 



SHORT-TAILED OPOSSUM. 



Didelphys brachyura. 

 Didelphys brachyura, Aucf. 



Description. — Lengtli from nose to root of tail, 6 

 inches ; from nose to ear, 1 inch 6 lines ; of tail, 2 

 inches 8 lines ; of tarsus, (claws included) 8 j lines ; 

 of ear, 3f lines. Head large; canine teeth very large; 

 ears rather small ; tail short, rather more than half 

 the length of the body; fur short and crisp ; the 

 upper surface of the head and back ashy-grey, griz- 

 zled with yellowish- white ; the sides of the head and 

 body, and under parts rusty-yellow, rather paler on 

 the belly than other parts, and of a deeper hue on 

 the rump and cheeks ; the eye is encircled with rusty- 

 yellow ; feet yellowish ; tail clothed with short stiff 

 hairs, and exhibiting scales, brownish above and dirty 

 yellowish-white beneath ; a small naked space be- 

 neath of about two lines in length. Fur of the back 

 greyish at the base, that on the belly uniform ; ears 

 clothed with minute yellowish- white hairs. The 

 female has no pouch. 



Observations. — Temminck gives as the locality of 

 this species, Guyana, he also says it is very common 

 in Surinam. It must have a wide range for Mr. 

 Darwin procured a specimen at Maldonado La Plata, 

 he states that he found in its intestines the remains 

 of insects, chiefly ants, — there were also some belong- 

 ing to the order Hemiptera. 



