THE OPOSSUM. 



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THE MARMOSE, OR MURINE OPOSSUM, 



Resembles in most respects the latter species ; they are 

 natives of the same climate, in the same continent, and 

 are very much alike by the form of the body, the conform- 

 ation of the feet, and the tail, a part of which is covered 

 with scales, the upper part only being hairy. But the 

 Marmose is smaller than the common Opossum ; his snout 

 is still sharper ; the female has no bag under the belly ; 

 she has only two loose skins near the thighs, between 

 which the young place themselves, to stick to the paps. 

 When the young are brought forth, they are not so large 

 as small beans : they then stick to the paps. The brood 

 of the Marmose is very numerous : we have seen ten small 

 Marmoses, each sticking to a pap, and the mother had 

 still four more paps. It is probable that these animals 

 bring forth a few days after the conception. The young 

 are then foetuses only, which are not come to the fourth 

 part of their growth. 



THE CAYOPOLLIN, OR MEXICAN OPOSSUM, 



Says Fernandez, is a small animal, a little larger than a 

 rat, very much resembling the Opossum in the snout, the 

 ears, and the tail, which is thicker and stronger than that 

 of a rat : he makes use of it as we do our hands : he has 

 thin transparent ears ; the belly, the legs, and feet, white. 

 The young, when they are frightened, embrace the mother, 

 who lifts them up on the trees. This species has beer 

 found on the mountains of Mexico. 



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THE FLYING OPOSSUM. 



This animal is found in New South Wales : its head is 

 like a squirrel's, with ears large and erect, but the fur is 

 more delicate, and of a beautiful dark glossy color, mixed 



