VIVERRINE OPOSSUM. 493 



long, but sharp. The animal walks on its whole 

 palm, on which there is no hair. The hind feet 

 are pretty long, and have five toes; that which 

 answers to our great toe is very short, and has no 

 nail ; the next is the longest in the whole, falling 

 gradually off to the outer toe ; the shape of the 

 hind toes is the same as in the fore feet, as are 

 likewise the nails : it walks nearly on the whole 

 foot. The tail is covered with long hair, but not 

 all of the same colour. 



" The teeth of this creature are different from 

 any other animal yet known. The mouth is full 

 of teeth. The lower jaw narrow in comparison 

 to the upper, more especially backwards, which 

 allows of much broader grinders in this jaw than 

 in the lower, and which occasions the grinders in 

 the upper jaw to project considerably over those 

 in the lower. In the middle the cuspidati oppose 

 one another, the upper piercers, or holders, go 

 behind those of the lower; the second class of in- 

 cisors in the lower jaw overtop those of the up- 

 per, while the two first in the lower go within, or 

 behind those of the upper. In the upper jaw, 

 before the holders, there are four teeth on each 

 side, three of which are pointed, the point stand- 

 ing on the inner surface; and the two in front are 

 longer, stand more obliquely forwards, and appear 

 to be appropriated for a particular use. The 

 holders are a little way behind the last fore teeth, 

 to allow those of the lower jaw to come between. 

 They are pretty long, the cuspidati on each side 



