PHALANCER, AND MERIAN OPOSSUM. 435 
false belly ; but the young, as soon as they are 
brought forth, adhere to the teats of their mother. 
Seba says, she produces ten or twelve at a time. 
Its fur is very soft and elegant. It inhabits South 
America, and lives in the woods. 
Phalanger opossum. 
This species of the opossum has a thick nose, 
and short ears covered with hair. It has eight 
cutting teeth in the upper jaw, and two in the 
lower. The hair on the upper part of the body 
is reddish, mixed with light ash colour and yellow. 
The hind part of the head and the middle of the 
back, are marked with a black line. ; the throat, 
belly, legs, and part of the tail, are of a dirty yel- 
lowish white ; the rest of the tail is brown and 
yellow ; the body of the female is marked with 
w hite ‘ the first and second toes of the hind feet 
are closely united ; the claws are large ; the thumb 
on the hind feet is distinct, like that of the other 
species ; the bottom of the tail is covered with 
hair for near two inches and a half; the rest of it 
is naked. The length of the animal, from the nose 
to the tail, is near nine inches. Dr. Pallas says 
that this species inhabits the East Indian islands ; 
but that it is not found in Surinam, as Ruffon con- 
jectures. Its voice resembles that of a squirrel, 
and it frequently assumes the attitude of that ani- 
mal when feeding. 
Merian opossum. 
This animal derives its name from Sibilla 
Merian, a German paintress, who first discovered, 
and drew the figure of this species at Surinam. 
The Merian opossum has long, sharp-pointed, 
naked ears; its head and body are of a yellowish 
