432 
MURINE OPOSSUM. . 
them in an inclosure along with rabbits ; they 
burrowed like them, but preserved their young 
ones in their pouch ; the young ones would often 
peep out when the old ones were still. Spe- 
cimens of them have been sent from Java to 
Holland. 
Murine opossum. 
The murine opossum has long, broad ears, 
rounded at the extremity, thin and naked ; its eyes 
are encompassed with black ; the face, head, and 
upper part of the body are of a tawny colour ; 
the belly of a yellowish white ; its feet are cover- 
ed with short whitish hair ; its toes are formed 
like those of the Virginian opossum; its tail is 
slender, covered with minute scales to the very 
rump ; its length from the nose to the tail is about 
six or eight inches, and the tail the same. The 
female wants the false belly ; but on the lower 
parts, the skin forms on each side a fold, between 
which the teats are lodged. It is of a slender form, 
with a long% thin, snout. 
This species varies in colour : some in Guiana 
are brown above, and white beneath. 
It inhabits the hot parts of South America, and 
agrees with the others in its food and manners, and 
the prehensile power of its tail ; the female brings 
from ten to fourteen young at a time ; at least, she 
lias so many teats. The young affix themselves to 
the teats as soon as they are brought forth, and 
remain attached to them, like so many inanimate 
things, till they attain growth and vigour to shift 
a little for themselves. 
Both the Virginian, and the mannose or murine 
opossum, have each fifty teeth. 
