AUSTRALIAN OPOSSUM. 367 



when it is red at the shoulders. The tail is two-thirds 

 black towards the tip, and one-third grey like the rest of 

 the body ; the belly is yellowish, and has very short, fine 

 fur ; there are a few long black whiskers on the mouth. 



The Tasmanian Opossum is the largest of this species, 

 and nearly the rarest except the Victorian Opossum ; a 

 large skin of this animal, which we measured, was 36 

 inches long, body 25 inches, tail 11 inches. 



This Opossum inhabits exclusively Tasmania, and is 

 much sought after for its large size. The grey-coloured 

 variety is not generally so blue as the Opossums from 

 other parts of Australia ; its colour is yellower, and fur 

 much longer and thicker, the ears grey tipped with 

 white, the tail very bushy and black for about two- 

 thirds from the tip ; the tip on one side is devoid of fur, 

 and .this bare space enables it to cling to twigs and 

 branches with great facility. The value of skin, good 

 No. 1, is from Is. 4d. to 2s. 6d. according to demand. 

 The large black or dark brown variety, called the Black 

 Tasmanian Opossum, exists in larger proportion in this 

 colour than in any other region, such as Sydney and 

 Melbourne. The qualities of skins which are imported 

 vary considerably ; sometimes a few hundred, sometimes 

 5,000 to 10,000 are sent, but since 1889 the kilhng of 

 the Tasmanian Opossum has been prohibited. This fur 

 is much esteemed by furriers in all countries, especially 

 Herzegovina. Prices vary for a large No. 1. skin from 

 3s. 6d. to 6s. 6d. according to demand. 



The colour of this animal is a rich black-brown ; some 

 specimens are much redder. A few of dark skins have 

 a white belly. 



Victoria Opossum. — This variety is nearly as large as 

 the Tasmanian. The colour is of a clear dark grey- 



