502 BRUSH-TAILED OPOSSUM. 
or flesh-colour: the tail is of a flattened form, 
and is beautifully edged on each side with soft, 
silky hairs. The opening of the abdominal pouch 
in this species is of a semilunar form : on opening 
this receptacle in the specimen described in the 
New Holland Zoology, I discovered, on each 
side, a young one^ large in proportion to the pa- 
rent animal, and totally destitute of hair: they 
had, therefore, not approached to the period of 
their second birth. In such specimens as were 
not in a pregnant state, the mammas or teats 
were extremely small, and only four in number. 
The tongue in this animal is remarkably large 
and long, and of a flattened form : the hind feet 
have rounded and unarmed thumbs, and the two 
interior toes are united under a common skin. I 
am inclined to think that this little species feeds on 
insects ; and probably on young birds, eggs, &c. 
BRUSH-TAILED OPOSSUM. 
Didelphis Penicillata. D. cinereaj subfus aJbida, caudce apice 
villoso nigro. 
Ash-coloured Opossum, whitish beneath, with the end of the 
tail villose and black. 
This species is about the size of the black rat, 
and of an elegant appearance. The general co- 
lour is cinereous or deep grey, somewhat darker 
on the back : the nose is rather sharp : the ears mo- 
derately large, and of a very slightly pointed form 
at the tips : the sides of the mouth are furnished 
