402 
DIDELPHIDiE ; or Opossum Famuli*. 
Didelphid at. Waterhouse, Nat. Libr. vol. xi. (Marsupial!*), p. 75. 1841. 
Didelphina. Gray, Annals of Philosophy, rol. x. (New Series), p. 340. 1825. 
Marsupialia with incisor teeth, canines, “ ; premolars, ^ ; 
molars, — : feet live-toed, plantigrade : csectim moderate. 
The family Didelphida is composed of numerous Marsu¬ 
pial animals, which at the present time are confined to the 
American continents. They are of small size, the largest 
known species being scarcely equal to the Common Cat in 
bulk, whilst by far the greater portion of them would bear 
a closer comparison with the Common Ilut in this respect. 
Their food consists chiefly of insects ; but small reptiles, ns 
well as birds and their eggs, are attacked by the larger 
species. 
Some of the Didelphid®, or Opossums, have no pouch, or 
at least this receptacle for the young is found only in a very 
rudimentary condition in certain species, and the young, 
which at first remain firmly attached to the nipples, are sub¬ 
sequently carried upon the back of the parent, where they 
retain their position by entwining their tails round that of the 
mother. The maimme are very numerous, varying from nine 
to thirteen, the odd one being in the centre of a circle formed 
by the other nipples. One of the species of the present 
family (the Yapok) lives in the water, and differs from 
others of its group in having the feet webbed ; the remuining 
species live for the most part in trees, in the hollows or 
amongst the foliage of which, they remain concealed during 
the dav-time, sallying forth in the night only to procure 
their food. 
