VULPINE OPOSSUM. 603 
with very long fine bristles or whiskers, and 
others somewhat shorter are situated above each 
eye : the feet are formed as in others of this tribe : 
the sides are dilated into a flying membrane; and 
the tail is thin and ash-coloured for nearly half 
its length, and from thence is jet black, with very 
long fine hairs, so disposed as to represent a brush 
or large camels' hair pencil. 
VULPINE OPOSSUM. 
Didelphis Vulpina. D.ferruglneaj cauda villosa nigra. 
Ferruginous O. with black villose tail. 
Vulpine Opossum. Phillip's wj/. p. i^o. pL i6. 
This, which is one of the larger Opossums, is 
said to measure twenty-six inches from the nose 
to the setting on of the tail, and the tail itself 
fifteen inches. The general colour of the animal 
is, on the upper parts, dusky grey, with a rufous 
tinge ; all the under parts being of a tawny buff- 
colour, deepest on the throat : the tail is of the 
colour of the back for about a quarter of its length, 
and from thence to the end black : it appears from 
the representation in Mr. Phillip s voyage, to be 
well covered with fur to the very end. Upon the 
whole, I cannot help imagining that it is in re- 
ality no other than the species already described, 
under the name of the Lemurine Opossum. 
