HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 399 



The PHALANGER, or, Surinam 

 OPOSSUM, 



is fomewhat larger than a Rat : Its nofe is thick ; ears 

 Ihort and hairy; its fur of a reddifli colour, variegated 

 with light afli and yellow ; the under part of the body 

 yellowilh- white ; it is diftinguifhed from all thofe of the 

 Opoflum kind we have hitherto mentioned, in having the 

 firft and fecond toes of the hind feet clofely united ; its 

 claws are large ; tail long, very broad and thick at its 

 junction with the body, and naked at the end. 



It inhabits Surinam ; is fuppofed to be the animal call- 

 ed the Cane-Raty very deftrudlive to the fugar-canes. 



