VULPINE OPOSSUM. 503 



with very long fine bristles or whiskers, and 

 others somewhat shorter are situated above each 

 eye : the feet are formed as in others of this tribe : 

 the sides are dilated into a flying membrane; and 

 the tail is thin and ash-coloured for nearly half 

 its length, and from thence is jet black, with very 

 long fine hairs, so disposed as to represent a brush 

 or large camels' hair pencil. 



VULPINE OPOSSUM. 



Didelphis Vulpina. D.ferruginea, cauda villosa nigra. 



Ferruginous O. with black villose tail. 



Vulpine Opossum. Phillip's voy. p. i^o. pi. 16. 



THIS, which is one of the larger Opossums, is 

 said to measure twenty-six inches from the nose 

 to the setting on of the tail, and the tail itself 

 fifteen inches. The general colour of the animal 

 is, on the upper parts, dusky grey, with a rufous 

 tinge; all the under parts being of a tawny buff- 

 colour, deepest on the throat: the tail is of the 

 colour of the back for about a quarter of its length, 

 and from thence to the end black : it appears from 

 the representation in Mr. Phillip's voyage, to be 

 well covered with fur to the very end. Upon the 

 whole, I cannot help imagining that it is in re- 

 ality no other than the species already described, 

 under the name of the Lemur in e Opossum. 



