AUSTRALIAN OPOSSUM. 369 



the Koala, and sometimes with the Brush-tailed Kan- 

 garoo (Eock Wallaby), partaking of the nature of both 

 of these. 



Most of the Sydney skins are obtained from the 

 mountain regions about that part, thus accounting for 

 the rich and thick fur. 



White Opossums are uncommon, but not scarce. 



The Melbourne Opossum exceeds all other varieties in 

 number ; in size it is smaller than the Sydney type, 

 which it resembles much in colour. Its length is about 

 16 inches including the tail ; this is generally black for 

 two-thirds of its length, but is sometimes grizzled, 

 though this freak of nature is extremely rare. Dark 

 brown Opossums with white bellies and albinos are 

 sometimes met with ; jet black animals are very rare ; 

 we have once seen a dark drab skin. 



The fur of the Australian Opossum takes a brilliant, 

 dye, and becomes very soft and silky in the process. 



The Australian Opossum breeds well in confinement. 

 About 3,000,000 skins of all sorts of Australian Opos- 

 sums were sold in London in 1891. 



The Adelaide Opossum is the smallest in size of this. 

 species, but its colour is the best, being of a ver}- 

 decided blue ; the majority of skins are of this descrip- 

 tion, having an abundance of longer black hair on the 

 back, giving it the appearance of a Chinchilla. 



A certain number are, however, red. 



The fur is short, f to 1 inch in length ; the tail rather 

 thin in fur, and often having a white tip ; sometimes it 

 is even white for half its length. 



The West Australian and Swan Eiver Opossums 

 resemble the above, but they are more mousey, redder 



B B 



