THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 



Generic Characters. 

 The cutting teeth unequal in number in each jaw. 

 Two canine teeth in each jaw. 



Five toes on each foot : the hind feet formed like a hand, with 



a diftinct thumb. 

 The tail very long, llender, and naked. 



Synonims. 

 Didelphis marsupialis, Linn. Syfl. 71. 

 Le Sarigue ou L'Opossum, de Buffon t x. 279. tab. xlv. xlvi. 

 Mus marsupialis, Klein Quad. 71. 



Philander saturate spadiceus, &c. Brijfon Quad. 207. 

 Wood-Rat, Du Pratz Louifiana, ii. 65. 

 Semi-vulpa, Gefner Quad. 870. 

 Tlaquatzin, Hermandez Mex. 330. 



Tai-ibi (maf.) Caragueya (fern.) Marcgrave Brafil, 222. 

 Raii Syn. Quad. 182. 185. 



THIS animal is about feventeen inches in length, without the tail, which 

 is fourteen. Its head is rnarp, refembling that of a Fox ; the eyes are round, 

 fmall, black, and lively, and placed upright ; the ears are long, broad, and 

 tranfparent, refembling thofe of the Rat. The face is covered with fhort, 

 foft hairs, of a dufky-colour ; befides which, it has fome long HifF hairs on 

 each fide of the nofe, and behind the eyes ; and over each eye there is a large 

 white fpot. The cheeks incline to white : the fides of the neck are of a 



