VIRGINIAN OPOSSUil. 
125 
it in all the south-western states. It exists in Indiana, Mississippi, Mis- 
souri, and Arkansas, and extends to the Pacific ; it is said to exist in Cali- 
fornia. It is somewhat singular, that in every part of America, as far as 
we have been able to observe, the geographical range of the Opossum is 
very nearly the same as that of the persimon tree, of whose fruit it is so 
fond. This we regard, however, as merely accidental, as this food is not 
essential to its support. The Opossum neither ceases to multiply or to 
thrive in seasons in which the persimon has failed. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
In our plate, we gave Pennant as the originator of the scientific name 
of this species. We find, however, that he only calls it the Virginia 
Opossum, with a reference to the Diddphys marsupialis, Linneus. Gmelin 
subsequently arranged it under Didelphys marsupialis. As Shaw, m 
1800, as far as we have been able to ascertain, seems to have been the 
first who applied the Latin specific name, D. Virginiana, we have, in ac- 
cordance with the rules laid down by naturalists, given him the credit of 
the specific name. 
