472 



DIDELPHIS. OPOSSUM. 



Generic Character. 



Denies Primores minuti, ro 



tundati. 

 Superiores decem, intermediis 



duobus longioribus. 

 Inferiores octo, intermediis 



duobus latioribus brevissi- 



mus. 



Laniarii longi. 

 Molares denticulati. 

 Lingua papillis ciliata. 

 Folliculus (plerisque) abdomi- 



nalis mammarum. 



Front-teeth small, rounded. 



Superior ten, the two middle 

 ones longer. 



Inferior eight, the two mid- 

 dle ones broader and very 

 short. 



Canine-teeth long. 



Grinders denticulated. 



Tongue ciliated with papillae. 



Abdominal pouch (in most spe- 

 cies) containing the teats. 



HE animals of this highly singular genus first 

 became known to naturalists on the discovery of 

 the Western Continent, and most justly excited 

 the admiration of the philosophic world, by the 

 strange, and, till then, unheard-of contrivance of 

 Nature for the protection and preservation of the 

 young; which, instead of being exposed, like 

 other animals, during their state of helpless im- 

 becility to the casualties incident to that period, 

 were securely concealed in a pouch or receptacle 

 situated under the body of the parent. 



