MiMMAL«, 



33 



clieeks, and has flesh colored toes. Z>. cancrivoray though of dark pelage, has no well defined 

 markings on the head ; the long scattered hairs, too, are blackest. 



This animal agrees pretty well with the Didelphys californica of Bennett, which, however, I 

 cannot distinguish from the D. hrevicepSy except hy the length of the tail, which, as given by 

 Bennett, measures 16 inches, with a body of 12. "Waterhouse, however, in redescribing the 

 same specimens, gives the head and body at 17 inches ; the tail, 14; which is much nearer the 

 proportions of the specimens here described. 



The D. pruinosaj^ of Wagner, appears to be the same animal. The D. californicay of Bur- 

 meister, in Fauna Brasiliens, is described as having the ground color reddish brown. 



Although tliere are some differences in the skulls of tlie Dlddpltys virginiana and those of the 

 subject of the present article, yet I am not able to establish on them any specific characteristics. 

 In fact, the variations in the thickness and length of the muzzle in diflferent species, in addition 

 to other points, are so great as to readily convey the impression, without a knowledge of the 

 facts, of many more species than really exist. This will be more intelligible from the fol- 

 lowing measurements : 



Measurements of shiUs. 



I^ength 0/ ^kuli , 



WiJth between zygomata 

 lJist:\iice io orbits 



Width 01 muzzle, behind canine 



DIDELPHYS VIROISIANA. 



2452, Georgia. 



2200, Georgia. 



Inches, 

 5.06 



2.65 



2.19 



.98 



\mths. 



100 



52 



/lie Acs. 

 4.80 



3.50 



43 2.10 



19 



.80 



lOOMv 

 lOU 



53 



44 



17 



680, Carlisle. 



Inches. 

 4.86 



2.93 



2.18 



1.02 



IQOths. 

 lUO 



60 



45 



21 



527, Carlisle. 



Inches 

 3.65 



1.93 



1.61 



.67 



IOO/A». 

 100 



54 



44 



18 



1>. CALIFORNICA. 



1401, Matuuioras, 



I lichee, 

 4.40 



2.63 



2.05 



.96 



1121, Texas. 



lOO:/ts. 



Inches. 



1 OOths. 



100 



3.50 



100 



59 



1.75 



50 



4B 



1.55 



44 



22 



.63 



10 



Measurements of skins. 



I 



i 



Current No 



Ijocality. 



133 



199 



1058 



Matamoras 



Lower Rio Grande 



City of iMexico 



From lip of nose to 



Eye. 



Ear 



Occip. : Tail. 



Tail to end of 

 vertebriE. 



Lensih of- 



Fore foot. 





1.52 



y.80 



Hind foot. 



Hri^fhl of ear 

 above notch. 



Nature of cpedmcn 



r 



i 



3.30 



3.60 



1G.50 

 13.00 

 15.50 





11.25 



8.54 



12.25 



1.50 

 1.50 

 1.65 



2.20 

 2.10 

 2.20 



1.40 

 1.30 



l.UO 



Dry skin 

 • • . . do . , , 



(•••uO...« ..«(•*■■■ 



1058, City of Mexico. John Potts.— 190. Mouth of Rio Grande. J. H. Clark.— 1197. 

 Gujapuco, Mexico, Lt. D. N. Couch, U. S. A. — 138. Matamora^j Mexico. February, 1853. 

 Lt. D. N. Couch, U. S. A. (20.) Sklu. 



The range of this species, as shown from the list of specimens, is from Texas to the city of 

 Mexico ; how much further cannot now be determined. It probably extends into Upper Cali- 

 fornia, though I have never yet seen any specimens from our Pacific Territory. 



*' Found on the lower Rio Grande ; is not probably an inhabitant of the central part of the continent, as the Mcxtcana who 

 had come down from Chihuahua had never seen such an animal. Its favorite food is the black persimmon, an abundant fruit 

 of this region."— (J. H. Clark.) 



I 

 i 



W 



of it by Warner, however, appears to be in the Suppl. Schreber III, 1843. 



The first mention 



5 



m 



