THE CAYOPOLLIN. 



slightest alarm 5 and they finally abandon this asylum for the 

 blind and helpless, when they are thoroughly capable of seeing 

 their own way through the world, and can trust to their own 

 powers of self-defence. 



THE CAYOPOLLIN, OR MEXICAN OPOSSUM. 

 (Didelphis cayopollin, Linn.) 



This is the only species of opossum, with the exception of 

 the preceding species, that inhabits North America. 



It is about the size of our common brown rat -, its general 

 colour is greyish fawn -, its snout is pointed ; the eyes are 

 situated in a longitudinal brown stripe, and there is another 

 similar stripe down the forehead ; the tail is long, variegated 

 with black and white, and the upper third portion of it is 

 furnished with hairs. 



The female of this species, like some others of the present 

 genus, has no pouch, but merely the rudiment of one in a fold 

 of the skin on each side of the abdomen. She usually carries 

 her young on her back, their long tails being entwined around 

 her own in the curious manner above represented. 



