396 



THE CRAB-EATING OPOSSUM. 



after being placed in the ponch, and after the period when the eyes and ears are opened, in 

 order to ascertain whether any important change, chemical or otherwise, has been made in that 

 liquid by the double action of air and light. 



The order which embraces the pouched animals, called in systematic language Marsupials, 

 from the Latin, marsupium, a pouch, is well nigh peculiar to that far-away and almost wholly 

 strange country, Australasia. With the notable exception of our Virginia Opossum and a few 

 species of the same genus in South America, the Marsupials are confined to the latter country. 

 Wallace records three genera and twenty-three species of the family Didelphyidce. 



The species are most numerous in Brazil. The North American Opossum ranges from the 

 Hudson River to Florida. 



The skins of the Opossum are now of considerable commercial value. 



The prehensile tail of this animal is well illustrated in the two engravings. 



The Crab-eating Opossum is not so large an animal as the Virginian Opossum, being 

 only thirty or thirty-one inches in total length, the head and body measuring sixteen inches, 



and the tail fifteen. It can 

 also be distinguished from 

 the preceding animal by the 

 darker hue of its fur, the 

 attenuated head, and the uni- 

 formly colored ears, which 

 are generally black, but are 

 sometimes of a yellowish 

 tint. 



The fur of the Crab- 

 eating Opossum is long, and 

 though rather woolly in tex- 

 ture, is harsh to the touch. 

 From the peculiar coloring 

 of the long hairs that pro- 

 trude through the thick, 

 close, woolly fur that lies 

 next to the skin, the general 

 tinting of its coat appears 

 rather uncertain, and varies 

 according to the portion 

 which happens to be ex- 

 posed to view at the time. 

 These hairs are nearly white 

 towards their base, but dark- 

 en into sooty-black towards 

 their extremities. The limbs 

 and feet are black, and the 

 head is a brownish-white. 

 There is generally an indis- 

 tinct dark line drawn over 

 the forehead. The tail is covered with scales, interspersed with short hairs, and its basal 

 half is black, the remainder being of a grayish -white. For the first three inches of its length 

 it is densely clothed with sooty -black fur of the same tint as that upon the back, and the 

 remainder of its length is covered with scales and short hair. 



The Crab-eating Opossum is peculiarly fitted for a residence on trees, and is never seen to 

 proper advantage except when traversing the boughs, or swinging among the branches by 

 means of its peculiarly prehensile tail. While it is engaged in its arboreal wanderings, it 



CRAB-EATING OPQSSUM.-P/iiiander cancrivorw. 



