THE CRAB-EATING OPOSSUM. 



497 



The fur of the Crab-eating Opossum is long, and though rather woolly in texture, is 

 harsh to the touch. From the peculiar coloring of the long hairs that protrude through 

 the thick, close, woolly fur that lies next to the skin, the general tinting of its coat ap- 

 pears rather uncertain, and varies according to the portion which happens to be ex- 

 posed to view at the time. These hairs are nearly white towards their base, but darken 

 into sooty-black towards their extremities. The limbs and feet are black, and the 

 head is a brownish-white. There is generally an indistinct dark line drawn over the 

 forehead. The tail is covered with scales, interspersed with short hairs, and its basal 



CRAB-EATING OPOSSUM. Philander canorlvorus. 



half is black, the remainder being of a grayish-white. For the first three inches of its 

 length it is densely clothed with sooty-black fur of the same tint as that upon the back, 

 and the remainder of its length is covered with scales and short hair. 



The Crab-eating Opossum is peculiarly fitted for a residence on trees, and is never 

 seen to proper advantage except when traversing the boughs, or swinging among the 

 branches by means of its peculiarly prehensile tail. While it is engaged in its arboreal 

 wanderings, it always takes care to twine its tail firmly round the nearest object that is 



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