430 MOLUCCA OPOSSUM. 
and resemble foetuses ; it is therefore necessary 
that they should continue in that receptacle that 
nature has prepared for them, till they attain per- 
fect shape, strength, sight, and hair, and are pre- 
pared to undergo what to them may be called a 
second birth ; after which, they run into this 
pouch, as into an asylum, in time of danger, and 
the parent carries them about with her. During 
the time of this second gestation, the female shews 
an excessive attachment to her young, and will 
suffer any torture rather than permit the place of 
their retreat to be laid open ; for she has the 
power of opening or closing it, by the assistance 
of some very strong muscles. The flesh of the 
old ones is very good, like that of a sucking pig. 
Their hair is dyed by the Indian women, and wove 
into garters and girdles ; but their skins are very 
fetid. 
Molucca opossum. 
This, species has long, oval, and naked ears ; 
its mouth is very wide ; over each eye it has an 
oblong white spot ; the lips of its upper jaw, its 
throat, breast, and belly, are of a whitish ash- 
colour ; the rest of its hair is of a cinereous brown, 
tipt with lawny, and darkest on the back; its tail 
is as long as the body ; near the base it is covered 
with hair ; the rest of it is naked ; its claws are 
hooked. On the belly of the female there is a 
pouch, like that of the former species, in which 
the young shelter. Margrave found six young 
ones in the pouch of one female ; she had ten 
cutting teeth above, and eight below. Its tail 
exceeds the length of both head and body ; its 
whole figure is of a much more slender and elegant 
make than that of the former. It is longer than 
the former species. 
