487 



LEMURINE OPOSSUM.. 



Didelphis Lemurina. D. cinerea, subtus fulvescens, cauda tcreti 



vUlosa prehensili nigra. 

 Cinereous Opossum, tawny beneath, with cylindric, black, furry, 



prehensile tail. 

 . Wha Tapoa Roo. Whites Journ. of a voyage to New South 



Wales, p. 278. 

 Opossum from New South Wales. Bewick's Hist, of Quadr. 



p. 376. 

 New Holland Bear. Pennant Quadr. 2. p. 13. 



THIS is a large species, being equal in size to 

 a Cat, but longer bodied in proportion. Its co- 

 lour is a fine brownish or iron-grey above, and 

 pale yellowish-brown beneath; in some specimens 

 nearly white: the sides of the neck and the feet 

 have also a tinge of this colour: the fur on the 

 whole animal is extremely thick, rich, and soft, 

 scarce yielding in elegance to that of the Petaurus 

 or Great Flying Opossum: the muzzle is short and 

 roundish; the whiskers large and black; the ears 

 upright, large, and a little inclining to a pointed 

 form at the tips : the eyes bright and reddish : the 

 hind feet furnished with a rounded interior toe : 

 the tail, which is thick, long, and very furry, is 

 prehensile, and is of the same colour with the 

 body for about a fourth of its length; the remain- 

 der being black: it is naked beneath to a great 

 distance from the tip. The general length of the 

 body is about eighteen inches; of the tail about 

 twelve. Living specimens of this beautiful ani- 

 mal have been brought into England. In theif 



