488 
DIDELPUVS Plill.ANDKK. 
This species agrees very closely in size with the l). (Juica, 
D. midicaudata, and D. Opossum , but may readily be distin¬ 
guished by its short head, and the absence of the white spots 
on the forehead : on this part is a narrow, dusky longitudinal 
mark, which runs forwards nearly to the end of the muzzle, 
and is rendered conspicuous by the parts of the head imme¬ 
diately adjoining it, on either side, being of a silvery grey hue. 
The region of the eye is dusky brown, uud this dark colour 
is much extended in front of the eye. The upper lip is 
edged with whitish, and the cheek is yellow. The hinder 
portion of the head and upper parts of the body are of a 
yellowish rust colour, and the sides of the body and outer 
side of the limbs are rusty yellow ; the limbs are, however, 
somewhat tinted with grey, the pale grey of the fur next the 
skin not being altogether hidden by the brighter coloured 
points of the hairs on these pans, and the sides of the body 
near the limbs is of a brighter hue than elsewhere, assuming a 
golden yellow tint: the same rich yellow is observed on the 
sides of the neck : the fur covering the basal portion of the 
tail differs from that of the body only in being of a less 
bright tint. The whole of the under parts of the animal, as 
well os the inner surface of the legs, is of a bright yellow 
hue. The feet are sparingly clothed with pale hairs. The 
naked portion of the tail is at first brown ; it is then spotted, 
or clouded with brown and yellowish white, and at the ex¬ 
tremity, and, indeed, for a considerable distance from the 
point, is entirely yellow-white. The long bristly hairs, which 
as usual spring from the sides of the muzzle, from above the 
eye, and from the cheek, are brown. 
The. above description is taken from a male specimen 
founded under the name I), martupialu by Linnieus, 1 have followed thu* 
authors who reject the name altogether. 
The term Philander is used by Mr Gray in n generic sense for nearly all t Ut 
Opossums in which the fur is short, and destitute of long bristly hairs. 
