LONG -TAILED, AND PIGMY OPOSSUM. 441 
thumb. Nothing can exceed the softness and de- 
licacy of this animal's for/ which is, if possible, 
still finer than that of the petaurus ; to which, 
indeed, though very greatly inferior in size, as well 
as widely different in colour, it yet bears a striking 
affinity. It is a nocturnal animal, and continues 
torpid the greatest part of the day ; but during 
the night is full of activity. In this, as well as 
in other Australasian opossums, the two toes ea 
the hind feet nearest the thumb, or rounded one, are 
connate, or both conjoined under one common 
skin. 
Long-tailed opossum. 
This species is about the size of a black rat, 
and is of a dark or brownish grey above, and 
whitish beneath ; the head and neck are also 
whitish beneath, but a dusky stripe runs along the 
top of the head almost to the nose ; the ears are 
whitish, moderately large, and slightly rounded ; 
the upper parts of the fore feet are whitish ; and 
the lower half of the tail is of a deeper black 
than the beginning. In the structure of the feet 
it agrees with other Australasian opossums ; the 
two interior toes of the hind feet being united 
under one common skin. 
Pigmy opossum. 
This is by far the most minute of all opossums, 
and from its diminutive size, not exceeding that of 
a common mouse, has been named the pigmy opos- 
sum. It is furnished on each side the body with an 
expansile membrane, exactly in the manner of a 
flying squirrel, by the assistance of which it is 
enabled to spring to a considerable distance. The 
fur on the whole animal is extremely fine ; the co** 
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