APPENDIX. 
only give us the form and conftruclion, but leave us in 
other refpcds to conjcdure, many of them requiring 
further obfervations relative to their ceconomy. A negledl 
in procuring this information has left us, almoft to this 
day, very ignorant of that part of the Natural Hiftory of 
animals which is the mofi: interefiing. The Opoffum is 
a remarkable inftance of this. There is fomething in the 
mode of propagation in this animal that deviates from all 
others ; and although known in fome degree to be extraor- 
dinary, yet it has never been attempted, where opportunity 
offered, to complete the inveftigation. I have often endea- 
voured to breed them in England ; I have bought a great 
many, and my friends have aflifted me by bringing them or 
fending them alive, yet never could get them to breed ; 
and although poflcfled of a great many fads refpeding 
them, 1 do not believe my information is fuliicient to 
complete the fyflem of propagation in this clafs. In 
colleding animals, even the name given by the natives, 
if poflible, fliould be known ; for a name, to a Naturalift, 
fhould mean nothing but that to which it is annexed, having 
no allufion to any thing elfe ; for when it has, it divides the 
idea. This obfervation applies particularly to the animals 
which 
