498 



SQUIRREL OPOSSUM. 



Didelphis Sciurea. D. hypochondriis prolixis volitans, supra 

 can a, subtus nivea, cauda villosissima pre/iensili, apicem versus 

 nigra. ZooL of New Holland, No. 4. p. 29. t. n. 



Pale-grey Opossum, snow-white beneath, with lateral flying 

 membrane and very villose prehensile tail. 



THIS is perhaps the most beautiful quadruped, 

 if we except the Petaurus or Great Flying Opos- 

 sum, of all the Australasian species yet discovered. 

 In its general aspect it has so much the appear- 

 ance of a Squirrel, that, on a cursory view, it 

 might readily pass for such. A more exact inr 

 spection into its characters will, however, evince 

 it to be a genuine Opossum. Its size is nearly 

 that of a common Squirrel ; but, from the fullness 

 and particular growth of the fur, which, like that 

 of the Lemur, grows in a suberect manner, it ap- 

 pears somewhat larger. Its general colour is ex- 

 actly like that of the Sciurus cinereus, or Ameri- 

 can Grey Squirrel. A black stripe passes over 

 each eye along the top of the head : under each 

 ear is a black patch surrounded with white; the 

 hair on the white part having a more soft or floc- 

 culent appearance than the black. The tail, 

 which is prehensile, is of the same colour with 

 the body for about half its length, the remainder 

 being black. It is very full of hair, and tapers a 

 little towards the extremity, but without any acute 

 termination. The eyes are black, rounded, and 

 full : the ears round, shortish, and very thin : the 



