472 
D1DELPHYS AZAKAL. 
Azam's Opossum has a wide geographical range. It was 
first noticed by Azara in Paraguay; in the British Museum 
collection aro specimens from Brazil, and St. Fe de Bogota. 
Mr. Darwin found it at Maldonado, and Mr. Bridges has 
forwarded us specimens from Bolivia. In Guiana it is 
replaced by a nearly allied species, which we shall next 
describe— the D. cancrivora. The Didelphy* Azar<t is a 
nocturnal animal, lies concealed during the day in burrows 
in the ground, or in thickets, and climbs trees in the niglit 
to feed upon fruits, and birds’ eggs. Like the Weasel it sucks 
the blood of birds, and is very destructive to poultry. Azara 
states that it is found in the open parts of the country as 
well as in the thickets. The bodv of this animal, Mr. 
Darwin informs us, has a very offensive odour after death. 
Air. Bridges found eight young ones in a litter of one of these 
animals. 
Didelphys albiventris. 
DitUlphyt albictntris. Lund, Det. K. Danskc Vidcnsk. ScUk. Afb. riii. 
p. 23G. 
Fur of a pale Isabella-yellow colour, but with the hairs black at 
the point on the hack and sides of the body : head with a 
longitudinal black mark running through each eye, and a 
third dark mark on the forehead ; ears grey at the base, and 
whitish at the point; legs and feet black ; tail with the 
basal half black, and the terminal half pale Isabella-yellow. 
Inhabits Brazil. 
The above description is taken from l>r. Lund’s account 
of a species of lJiddjdnjs, which that author regards as 
distinct from others with which he is acquainted. 1 strongly 
