VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 
The Opossum, or Didelphis of Linnseus, 
is a peculiar genus of animals, consisting of 
many species, whose generical charadleristics 
are thus described^ — • 
The fore-teeth are very small, and rounded,: 
of these, there are ten in the upper jaw, with 
two intermediate ones longer than the rest ; 
in the lower jaw, there are eight, with two 
intermediate ones broader than the rest, and 
very short. The tusks are long, and the grin- 
ders knobbed. The tongue is furnished with 
a fringe of pointed papilliB. In most species, 
tiie female has a pouch, or false belly, within 
which the teats are placed- In general, too^ 
the tail is long, slender, and naked. • 
Buffbn says, " tlie Opossum is an Ameri- 
can animal, and easily distinguished from, all 
oihers, by two very singular chara6lers: 
1. Under the belly of the female there is h 
large cavity, in wlii«. Ivshe receives and siickics 
