SPOTTED OPOSSUM. 
longer and stronger as they approach the eyes. 
It has very much the air of a Rat, to which it 
is similar in colour ; but, near the setting on of 
the tail, it is of a lighter brown, forming a 
broad ring round it. The fore feet are shorter 
than the hind, but much in the same propor- 
tion as those of the Rat; the hind feet are more 
flexible. There are five toes on the fore feet, 
the middle ones the largest; falling off on 
each side, nearly equally, but the fore or inner 
toe is rather shortest: they are thin, from side 
to side. The. nails are pretty broad laterally, and 
thin at their base ; not very long, but sharp. 
The animal walks on it's whole palm, on 
which there is no hair. The hind feet are 
pretty long, and have five toes' : that which 
answers to our great toe is very short, and has 
no nail ; the next is the longest in the whole, 
falling gradually off to the outer toe. The 
shape of die hind toes is the same as in the 
fore feet, as are likewise the nails. It walks 
nearly on the whole foot. The tail is covered 
with long hair, but not all of the same colour. 
*' The teeth of this creature are different 
(Venn those of any other animal yet known, 
The 
