96 THE OPOSSUMS. 



The three preceding species all possess a conspi- 

 cuous spot above the eyes, are of a slender form, and 

 have very long tails ; they are of larger size than 

 most of those which are about to be described,- 

 their chief distinguishing characters may be summed 

 up as follows : 



D. Quica may be distinguished from the two fol- 

 lowing species by its larger size, and comparatively 

 sombre colouring ; its tail is longer than in D. opos- 

 sum. In the specimen before me there is no pale 

 spot behind the ears ; and as M. Temminck has not 

 described a spot in this situation, I presume it is 

 always wanting ; if so, this character will also serve 

 to distinguish the present animal, either from D. 

 opossum or D. nudicaudata. 



D. opossum. Distinguished from D. Quica by 

 its smaller size and shorter tail : its prevailing tint is 

 a bright rust colour, whereas that of D. Quica is 

 deep ashy grey. 



D. nudicaudata may at once be distinguished from 

 either of the foregoing, by there being a very small 

 portion of the tail covered with fur, like that of the 

 body. In Z). opossum, a portion of the tail, of about 

 2 inches in length, is covered with fur ; in D. Quica 

 the fur is extended still further on to the tail, whilst 

 in the present species there is not more than half 

 an inch, at most, which is covered with fur. The fur 

 of the body is of a less woolly nature than in D. 

 Quica, the tail is more slender, and the tarsi are 

 longer. The basal half of the tail, moreover, is 

 brown, whereas in D. Quica it is black. 



