42 
ZOOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
Trans. & Proc. K. Soc. Victoria, part 2, vol. , viii. pp. 266-270.— Dr. Murie 
has continued his researches into the characters and structure of the species 
of this genus (see Zool. Record, ii. p. 61) in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, pp. 798-816. 
This paper is more especially devoted to Fh. platyrhinuSf of which a descrip- 
tion of the external characters and of the skeleton is given. It can only be 
recognized as specifically distinct from Ph. wombat in a zoological sense. 
Plate 86 represents the adult and young. 
Didelphys. Dr. Hensel has made observations as regards the manner in 
which the young adhere to the teats of the mother. The lateral portion of 
the cleft of the mouth is closed, and there is only a round opening in front. 
It would appear, from a distinct line between the coalesced upper and lower 
lips, that the cleft is wide open in the embryo before birth, and that the lips 
coalesce from the angle of the mouth after the young animal has seized the 
teat. The teat is soft, soniewhat tapering, not swollen at the extremity, and 
long enough to reach into the pharynx of the young. The young adheres by 
the claws of the fore legs, which are much more advanced in development 
than the hind limbs. Sitzgsber. Ges. ntrf. Freimd. Berlin, 1867, Feb. 19, 
p. 6. 
Didelphys azarce and aurita. Notes on their distinctive characters and 
natural history by Dr. Hensel in Zool. Gart. 1867, pp. 290-293. 
