86 OPOSSUMS. 



tanning. It is of rapid growth, but seldom sur- 

 vives more than four or five years. 



I arrived at Raby at noon. This farm is the 

 property of W. Riley, Esq.; it is & large and 

 very valuable estate, principally used as a sheep- 

 run ; and there are several fine breeds of these 

 very valuable animals. The estate also possesses 

 several acres of arable land, and much more 

 capable of cultivation for grain, &c. but not yet 

 used for that purpose. 



Here I had an opportunity of seeing the com- 

 mon opossum of this country, {phalangista vul- 

 pina,) one a young female, and the other an old 

 male specimen,* (the " young feller" and " old 



* The dimensions of the large specimen were as follows : 



Feet. Inch. 



From the vertex of the head to the tip of the tail 2 3 

 Breadth across the shoulders . . . .03 



Length of the tail 1 li 



Breadth of the loins . . . .^ . . 3f 

 Length of the ^ore-leg to the claws . . 6| 

 hind-leg to do. . . . . 7|- 

 Length of the head to the snout ... 4 

 Length of the ear 2^ 



The tail is naked underneath from its extremity to within 

 five inches of the base, and is prehensile. 



The colour of the male specimen was greyish ; a short fine 

 fur covers the back, being also continuous of the same colour 

 to within four inches of the tail ; after which the fur becomes 

 longer, more glossy, and of a black colour ; the fur on the 



