DIDBLPHIDID^. — XVU. 36 



OEDEE F.-MAESUFTATJA. 



(TTie Marsupials.) 



FAMILY XVII. — DIDELPHIDID^. 



{TTie Opossums.) 



Marsupial mammals of small size, with the teeth i. |^:|-, 

 c. ^:\, pm. |:|, m. |^:|-. Feet five - toed, plantigrade, claws 

 5—4. Tail usually very long, nearly naked, covered by a 

 scaly skin, v^ith a few scattered hairs, prehensile. All 

 the species are American. 



/. DIDELPHYS, Linnasus. Opossums. 



1. D. virginiana, Shaw. Common Opossum. Dirty 

 white; legs dark; L. 35; T. 14. N. Y. to Rocky Moun- 

 tains, rather southerly; common. 



