N E W S O U T H W A L E S. 
Genus XVIL Didelphis. Lin. Syjl. Nat. 
Genus XXII. Opoffum. Penn, Hiji. ^lad. 
Black flying Opossum. 
The following is, according to every appearance, a 
new animal of this genus. The length from the tip of 
the nofe, which is pointed in fliape, to the root of the 
laiJj is twenty inches ; of the taiiitfeif twenty-two inches, 
at the bafe quite light, increafing gradually to black at 
the end : the width acrofs the loins fixteen inches : the 
ears are large and eredl : the coat or fur is of a much 
richer texture or more delicate than the fea-otter of 
Cook's River : on the upper parts of the body, at firft 
light, appearing of a gioffy black, but on a nicer infpec- 
tion, is really what the French call petit gris, or minever, 
being mixed with grey ; the under parts are white, and 
on each hip may be obferved a tan-coloured fpot, nearly 
as big as a fhilling ; at this part the fur is thinneft, but 
at the root of the tail it is fo rich and ciofe that the hide 
cannot be felt through it. The fur is alfo continued to 
the claws : the membrane, which is expanded on each 
lide of the body, is lituated much as in tire grey fpecies, 
though broader in proportion. The jaws are furnilhed 
with teeth, placed as in fome others of this genus : in the 
Q q upper 
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c n A 
xxir. 
