SHORT-TAILED OPOSSUM. 4/9 



down the middle, and a blackish or brown border 

 round the eyes, as in some other species : the legs 

 are dusky, and the claws white. The measure of 

 the animal from nose to tail is nine inches, and of 

 the tail the same, which is spotted with brown 

 and white, and is coated with hair to the distance 

 of about an inch from the base, the remainder 

 being naked. The measures of this species, as 

 given by Mr. Schreber, are somewhat different. 

 He says the length of the animal is somewhat 

 more than seven inches, and of the tail more than 

 eleven. It is a native of the mountains of Mexico, 

 where it lives among trees. 



SHORT-TAILED OPOSSUM. 



Didelphis Brachyura. D. cauda pilosa et auricidis cahis breris- 

 simis, marsupio nullo, corpore nifo. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmd 

 p. 1 08. Schreb. saeughth. p. 548. t. 101. 



Mus sylvestris Americana foemina. Seb. mm. i. p. 50. t. 31. 

 f.6. 



Short-tailed Opossum. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 26. 



THIS is one of the smaller species; and is said 

 seldom to exceed the length of five inches from 

 nose to tail; and in general to be somewhat 

 smaller than this; and the tail scarce exceeds the 

 length of two inches. Its colour is a reddish 

 brown, on the upper parts, and whitish beneath ; 

 it is destitute of an abdominal pouch ; the young 

 fastening themselves to the teats. The fur of this 

 animal is very soft and elegant ; the tail is very thick 



