.VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. 
The names of the Opossum are mime- i 
■rous : it is called, by the Brasilians, Sarlgue, 
Sarigoi, Serwoi, Carigue, or Carigueya; by 
-the Mexicans, Tlaquatzin ; by the inhabitants i 
of the Antilles, and Peruvians, Manitou; in 
Louisiana, Rat Sauvage, Rat de Bols, or Wood , 
Rat; byGesner, A]drovandus,&:c. Simi-Vulpa, '\ 
and Vulpes Major Putoria ; in the East Indies, • 
Cerignon ; and by Seba, Brisson, &c. the Phi- : 
lander. Seba enumerates three species of the \ 
Philander, which BufFon pronounces the same ; i 
but afterwards, in his Supplement, is con- j 
vinced, by a criticism of M. De Vosmaer, 
Director of the Prince of Orange's Cabinet of 
Natural History, that he had been mistaken, 
though he still admits only two distinct species. 
Our Virginian Opossum, we have figured 
from what Pennant justly calls tlie very ' 
fiithful representation in the Philosopliical 
.Transa6lions." Tlie usual lengtli of tliis ani- 
mal, from the tip of the nose, to the base of 
.the tail, is about twentv Indies; and the tail 
is about a foot long. It has a long, sharp- 
pointed nose ; large, round, naked, and very 
thin black cars, edged with pure while; and 
small, 
