198 MAMMALIA. FFRJE. Onoflum, 



long fharp fore-teeth, ftanding dire&ly forwards ; each jaw has four grinders on each fide; which are 

 placed far back in the mouth ; the belly is large and prominent, but has no pouch ; the fore legs are 

 very fhort and ufelefs for walking, having five toes armed with long, ftrong, conical claws ■, the hind 

 legs are aim oft as long as the body, with thick thighs, having only three toes on each foot; the middle 

 one is very long and thick, with a ftrong large claw ; the other two, one on each fide, are fmall 

 and diftant from the middle one, have fhort thick claws, and the outer toe has two fmall clofc fet 

 claws, feemingly only one without a narrow infpecTrion : The fcrotum of the male is large and pendu- 

 lous ; the whole fur is afh coloured, fmooth, and fhort ; the breaft and belly being confiderably paler. 

 This animal lives among the long grafs, feeding on vegetables, is very timid, and moves by furprifing 

 leap.-, with the hind legs, over bufhes feven or eight feet high ; and ufes the fore paws only for dig- 

 ging and carrying its food to the mouth. It is very good eating. 



The Kanguru, and the next fpecies, though placed in this genus, on the authority of Dr Gmelin, 

 ought certainly to have been arranged in the order of Glires, from their having ho tulks. T. 



397 16. Phillips Opoffum. — Didelpbis tndaByla. 



The tail is long, tapering, and hairy ; the hind legs are very long,, and are furniflied 

 with three toes ; the ears are rounded, and the, body is very fmall. 



Kanguroo Rat. Gov. Phillips voy. to Botany Bay, 1789, p. 277. and plate. 



Inhabits New South Wales. — The conftrudtion of the whole body and of the legs, both before and 

 behind, is exaftly fimilar to that of the Kanguru ; from which it chiefly differs in fize, being about 

 as big as a fmall Rat, while the former animal is as large as a Sheep. In the upper jaw there are two 

 fharp pointed cutting teeth in front, and three broad ones on each fide ; in the 'lower jaw two long 

 pointed fore-teeth, extending diredtly forwards; on each fide of each jaw, at a diftance from the fore- 

 teeth, are three grinders, the foremoft of which are fharp edged, and have the fides channeled or 

 fluted. The fur is fmooth, and of a uniform dark brown colour ; the breaft and belly being paler 

 than the reft. 



oq3 17. Vulpine OpofTum. — Didelph'is imlpecula. 



The tail is long, thick, and hairy ; for three quarters of its length it is black, and the 

 origin is of a grifly colour, like the body. 

 Vulpine Opoffum. Gov. Phillips voy. to Botany Bay, 150. and plate. 



Inhabits New South Wale". — The head and body meafure twenty-fix inches, and the tail fifteen 5 

 the legs are fhort, and of an equal length ; the foot is long, and refts in walking as far as the heel ; 

 each foot has five toes, all armed with fharp crooked claws, except the thumb, or great toe, on each 

 3;ind foot, which is placed high up on the foot, and has no claws ; the head is long, with a pointed 

 muzzle, which is garnifhcd with ten or twelve very long black whifkers, which ftand backwards, and 

 :-re longer than the head ; the ears are long, eredl:, and pointed ; the upper jaw has four fore-teeth, 

 and the lower two, which point forwards, both being like thofe of the Kanguru; on each fide, in the 

 upper jaw, are two fmaH tufks, but none below ; there are four grinders on each fide in both jaws. 

 The whole upper parts of the body, and Crft. quarter of the tail,* are of a grifly colour, proceeding 

 from a mixture of dufky and white hairs.; with a reddifh-yellow tinge, chiefly on the head and fhoul- 



ders : 



