28 



OPOSSUiMS (DIDELPHIS). 



Near the farthest corner from the entrance arc 

 placed the Opossums (Didelphis). 



Till the discovery of New Holland, most of the 

 then known animals of this genus were natives of 

 America. Australasia has, howe\er, added more 

 new species to this extraordinary family than were 

 before known : they are most remarkable for the 

 abdominal pouch with which the females are fur- 

 nished, which can be opened or shut at pleasure, in 

 which the young are concealed in time of danger. 



1. Virginian Opossum (Didelphis Opossum). In- 

 habits the warmer parts of America, climbs trees, 

 and springs from branch to branch by means of its 

 strongly prehensile tail. 



2. The Mamiose (Didelphis Murina). 



3. New Holland Opossum (Didelphis Caudivolva). 

 This has been brought alive to this country, and 



is a pleasing, cleanly animal. 



4. and 5, Kangaroo (Didelphis Gigantea). 



Of all the curious animals which the vast Island, 

 or rather Continent of Australasia has presented 

 to our view, the Kangaroo must be considered 

 as one of the most extraordinary ; its size, gene- 

 ral conformation, teeth, and other particulars, con- 

 spiring to render it a most interesting object to 

 every naturalist. The first discovery of this re- 

 markable quadruped was in the year 1770, when 



