440 
SQUIRREL OPOSSUM. 
The native name of this animal is hepoona 
roo. 
Squirrel opossum. 
This is perhaps the most beautiful quadruped* 
if we except the petaurus or great flying opos- 
sum* of all the Australasian species yet discovered. 
In its general aspect it has so much the appearance 
of a squirrel* that* on a cursory view* it might rea- 
dily pass for such. A more exact inspection into 
its character* will* however* evince it to be a ge- 
nuine opossum. 
Its size is nearly that of a common squirrel ; 
but from the fullness and particular growth of the 
fur* which* like that of a lemur* grows in a sub- 
erect manner* it appears somewhat larger. Its 
general colour is exactly like that of the sciurus 
cinereous, or American grey squirrel. A black 
stripe passess over each eye along the top of the 
head ; under each car is a black patch surrounded 
with white ; the hair on the white part having 
a more soft or flocculent appearance than the 
black. The tail* which is prehensile* is of the 
same colour with the body for half its length* the 
remainder being* black. It is very full of hair* 
and tapers a little towards the extremity* but with- 
out any acute termination. The eyes are black* 
rounded* and full ; the ears round* shortish* and 
very thin ; the w hole underside of the animal is 
milk-white ; the upper parts of the feet are also 
white ; and the edge of the lateral or flying mem- 
brane which extends from the fore feet to the hind* 
is edged with a blackish border* as in the flying 
squirrels. The abdominal pouch is of a consider- 
able size* and is situated as in other opossums* on 
the lower part of the abdomen ; the hind feet are 
furnished with a rounded* unarmed* or mu tic. 
